Islamabad (The COW News Digital) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has raised concerns over the whereabouts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi following the imposition of Governor’s Rule in the province, accusing the authorities of using emergency measures to pursue political victimisation against his party.
Barrister Gohar said there had been no clear information about the chief minister’s whereabouts since Governor’s Rule was imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He questioned the circumstances surrounding the provincial political situation and expressed concern over what he described as actions targeting PTI under the pretext of administrative and security measures.
The PTI chairman said his party rejected the imposition of Governor’s Rule and the enforcement of emergency measures in the province. He maintained that such decisions should not become a means of settling political scores or undermining the party’s political standing.
Gohar’s remarks come amid growing political tensions surrounding the federal government’s decision to impose emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The move has triggered objections from PTI leaders, who have repeatedly questioned its justification and implications for the province’s elected political leadership.
Addressing the issue of terrorism, the PTI chairman stressed that eliminating militancy remained a necessary objective and should be a priority for all stakeholders. He said there could be no disagreement over the need to eradicate terrorism, distinguishing the fight against security threats from the political controversy surrounding the emergency measures.
His statement reflected PTI’s position that security concerns should not be used to justify actions that the party considers politically motivated. The party has maintained that measures taken in the name of public safety must be assessed on their stated objectives and their impact on constitutional and democratic processes.
The question of Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts has also added another dimension to the ongoing political dispute. Gohar’s comments highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the chief minister’s situation after the introduction of Governor’s Rule, although he did not provide further details about Afridi’s location or the circumstances affecting his availability.
The developments have intensified the debate over provincial governance, political representation and the relationship between the federal authorities and PTI’s leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The controversy has also raised questions about how emergency powers should be exercised and what safeguards are necessary to ensure that political disagreements do not overshadow the province’s security needs.
For PTI, the immediate concerns remain the status of its provincial leadership and the legitimacy of the measures imposed in the province. Gohar reiterated that his party opposed the decision and viewed the situation as an attempt to target it politically.
The federal government’s position on the specific concerns raised by Gohar was not included in the reported remarks. Further clarification regarding Sohail Afridi’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his status would be necessary to establish the full picture.
The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains politically sensitive, with the dispute over Governor’s Rule continuing to fuel tensions between PTI and the federal authorities. The coming days may prove important in determining how the controversy develops and whether the competing sides provide further explanations regarding the province’s political and administrative arrangements.
