Sohail Afridi launches street movement in Lahore, receives massive public welcome

LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday formally launched the street movement from Lahore, which drew a warm reception from the public.

He kicked off the street movement in Lahore, raised slogans in favour of the PTI founder and was showered with rose petals by supporters.

Afridi spent a second busy day in Lahore, during which he addressed a ceremony at the Lahore High Court Bar Association and also visited the residences of Hammad Azhar and other leaders.

In addition, the KP chief minister went to Zaman Park and met PTI founder’s sister Aleema Khan.

Following the founder’s instructions, Sohail Afridi launched the street movement in Lahore, stopped at various points in the city to address the public, and was greeted with flower petals and slogans in support of the KP chief minister.

After the meeting at Zaman Park, Sohail Afridi and Aleema Khan jointly spoke to the media. Afridi said he was very happy to be at Zaman Park, the home of his leader.

“The happiness is incomplete because I have come alone, but God willing, soon my leader will be with me,” he added.

He said those in power had become so intoxicated with authority that “they could even break Pakistan into 50 pieces for the sake of power.”

He alleged they were never sincere with Pakistan and did not want dialogue, but rather wanted confrontation to continue.

The chief minister said no one was holding them accountable. “You cannot even sell a Prado for the price at which they sold PIA,” he remarked, adding that what was done to them the previous day was humiliating and had been etched into their hearts and minds.

Afridi said that even India had not treated Kashmiris the way “we are being treated here since yesterday,” but Lahoris had always shown them love because “this is Khan Sahib’s city.”

Aleema Khan said those “poor souls are so afraid and morally fallen that they are stopping women and children.” She said all roads leading to Zaman Park had been sealed from three sides, asking how long such restrictions could last.

She said that police had been stationed outside her gate, thinking this would intimidate them, “but we are not afraid.”

She said they were actually scared of the public, which is why they had blocked roads and routes. “Today, the entire Zaman Park has been turned into a prison; residents cannot freely enter or leave,” she said.

Aleema Khan said not to worry, as Sohail Afridi, Achakzai and others would all come and sit there.

“How can Punjab police overpower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police?” she asked. “This is just the beginning — no matter how many barriers they put up, when Lahore stands up, they will not be able to stop it because they cannot shut down the whole city.”

She said the message her sister received from her brother was the real message — that if told to come out on the streets, “we will come out on the streets.”

According to her, the authorities only wanted the PTI founder to accept them.

Earlier, addressing lawyers at the Lahore High Court, Sohail Afridi said he was grateful for the respect shown by the legal community.

He said the behaviour of the “occupying Punjab government” towards guests was in front of everyone. He added that the PTI founder had instructed preparation for a street movement in which the legal fraternity would play a key role.

The chief minister alleged that the rulers had paralysed the justice system.

“Three judges order that I be allowed to meet the founder, yet a jail superintendent throws the court order into the dustbin,” he said.

He said that the PTI founder believed that the constitution would restore the judiciary, and claimed that police in Punjab had turned into “goon police”.

He said the constitution gave them the right to hold rallies and protest, yet when a chief minister from another province arrived, more than a thousand workers were detained. He reiterated that PTI stood with the independence of the judiciary.