KP Assembly Passes Resolution Over Sohail Afridi Lahore Incident
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has passed a joint resolution concerning an incident involving Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during his recent visit to Lahore.
The resolution, moved by KP Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi, criticised the Punjab government and police over what KP lawmakers described as the alleged restriction of the chief minister’s movement and separation from his security team.
The assembly suspended its regular agenda to discuss the incident and adopted the resolution during its session.
KP Assembly Seeks Investigation
According to the resolution, lawmakers called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the events surrounding the KP chief minister’s interaction with Punjab Police.
The assembly asked the federal government to examine the circumstances of the incident and determine the roles of officials who were present.
It also called for relevant video footage, CCTV recordings and other available evidence to be reviewed.
The resolution stated that if any official is found to have exceeded their legal authority or violated the law, appropriate legal and departmental action should be taken.
Different Accounts of the Incident
The incident has resulted in conflicting accounts from KP and Punjab authorities.
Sohail Afridi and KP officials alleged that the chief minister was taken into a police vehicle, separated from his security personnel and later left at a roadside location.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari rejected the allegation. She said Afridi had entered the police vehicle voluntarily. Video footage shared by the Punjab government was cited as showing the KP chief minister walking toward and entering the vehicle himself.
A KP government official accompanying Afridi said the chief minister had entered the police vehicle in an effort to secure the release of detained party workers.
Because the two sides have provided different accounts, the circumstances surrounding the episode remain disputed.
Assembly Raises Constitutional Concerns
The KP Assembly resolution linked the incident to broader questions concerning personal liberty, human dignity, equality before the law and relations between the federal government and provinces.
Lawmakers argued that political differences should not affect the legal rights or security of an elected chief minister.
The resolution also stressed the importance of constitutional limits, the rule of law and cooperation between provincial governments.
PTI Parliamentary Party Reacts
The PTI parliamentary party in KP also criticised the treatment of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and discussed the incident during a meeting chaired by provincial party president Junaid Akbar Khan.
Several senior party figures and provincial lawmakers attended the meeting.
The participants called for the matter to be investigated and expressed concern that continued tensions between the Punjab and KP governments could affect relations between the provinces.
Assembly Session Adjourned
The KP Assembly later adjourned its session until Friday because of a lack of quorum.
The Lahore incident comes amid heightened political activity by PTI supporters in Punjab and growing tensions between the KP and Punjab governments.
Both sides have continued to present different accounts of what happened during Afridi’s Lahore visit, while the KP Assembly has now formally called for the matter to be investigated.
