Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s visit to Lahore drew nationwide attention after video footage circulated widely on social media showing him inside a police vehicle near Regal Chowk on Mall Road.
The incident occurred on September 14, 2026, during Afridi’s visit to Lahore amid political activity involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers. Reports said several party workers and local leaders had been detained by police, leading to a tense situation between the chief minister’s entourage and law-enforcement personnel.
What Happened at Regal Chowk?
According to reports, Afridi’s convoy reached Regal Chowk, where he protested the detention of PTI workers. He was seen on and later inside a police vehicle, with reports saying he demanded that detained workers be released before he would leave the vehicle.
Footage of the incident quickly spread across social media, generating competing claims about whether the chief minister had been detained or had entered the police vehicle voluntarily.
The episode soon became one of the most discussed moments of Afridi’s Lahore visit.
Sohail Afridi Claims He Was “Abducted”
Following the incident, Sohail Afridi alleged that authorities had “abducted” him before later leaving him on the roadside.
Speaking after the episode, Afridi claimed that he had been taken away in the police vehicle and described the incident as a serious security concern involving the elected chief minister of a province. Dawn reported that a senior KP government official accompanying Afridi said he had initially boarded the police van while seeking the release of detained party workers.
Afridi later repeated allegations that Punjab Police had obstructed his political activities and mistreated party workers during his Lahore visit.
Punjab Government Rejects Arrest Claim
The Punjab government disputed Afridi’s account.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that Afridi had entered the police vehicle himself and denied that authorities had arrested him. She shared footage that she said showed police personnel asking the KP chief minister to leave the vehicle.
Bukhari characterised the episode as a staged political act, while PTI and KP government representatives maintained that Afridi had been improperly taken away by police.
Lahore Police sources also said Afridi later got out of the vehicle and continued with his convoy.
Viral Footage Fuels Political Debate
Videos from Regal Chowk spread rapidly online, with supporters and critics interpreting the footage differently.
The controversy therefore involves two separate questions: Afridi’s decision to enter or remain inside the police vehicle, and what happened once the vehicle began moving.
Reports consistently indicate that Afridi entered or remained in the vehicle while demanding the release of detained workers. However, Afridi and Punjab government representatives have offered sharply different accounts of whether what happened afterward amounted to an abduction or arrest.
Lahore Visit Becomes Politically Significant
Afridi’s visit was already attracting political attention because of interactions between PTI supporters and law enforcement. The Regal Chowk confrontation intensified that attention and led to accusations between officials in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The episode highlights the broader political tensions surrounding PTI’s street mobilisation and the handling of political gatherings in Punjab.
As competing accounts continue to circulate online, the available footage and statements from both sides remain central to understanding what occurred at Regal Chowk.
For readers following the developing story, distinguishing between what the videos directly show and the political claims made about the incident is important as further official details emerge.
