# Sohail Afridi in Punjab: Why Did His Visit Face So Many Obstacles?

- Link: https://alifnews.info/sohail-afridi-in-punjab-why-did-his/
- Published: 2026-09-18T15:42:31+00:00
- Author: alifnews

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister **[Sohail Afridi’s recent visit to Punjab](https://alifnews.info/category/breaking-news/),
particularly Lahore, became the centre of a major political confrontation**, with
road blockades, police restrictions, detentions of PTI workers and competing claims
between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments.

Afridi arrived in Lahore on **September 14, 2026**, during a wider political mobilisation
by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). His trip was linked to the party’s planned street
movement ahead of a protest drive scheduled for September 27. He also visited the
family of deceased PTI worker Ishtiaq Ahmad.

So why did Sohail Afridi face so many obstacles in Punjab? The answer involves a
combination of **security restrictions, protest-related laws, police action and 
an increasingly tense political environment.**

## Section 144 and Restrictions on Political Gatherings

One of the biggest factors affecting Afridi’s Punjab visit was the enforcement of**
Section 144** across the province.

Ahead of the visit, the Punjab government imposed restrictions on gatherings of 
five or more people in public places, roads and open spaces. The order, which was
in effect until September 17, also restricted processions and the public display
of weapons.

Punjab authorities said the restrictions were intended to maintain law and order
and cited security concerns surrounding large public gatherings.

Because Afridi’s visit involved meetings with PTI supporters and political mobilisation,
the restrictions created immediate complications for the planned activities.

## Police Blockades During the Lahore Visit

Reports from Lahore described **police blockades and restrictions on routes** as
Afridi and his convoy travelled through the city.

According to Dawn, the KP chief minister and members of his cabinet encountered 
police blockades while entering Punjab and later inside Lahore. Entry and exit points
were restricted, while tensions and occasional scuffles were reported between police
and PTI supporters.

Afridi later alleged that police had blocked routes, detained party workers, removed
tents and taken other measures intended to restrict PTI’s street movement. These
were allegations made by the chief minister; the Punjab government disputed the 
broader portrayal of the operation as political victimisation.

## Detention of PTI Workers

Another source of confrontation was the detention of PTI leaders and workers.

During Afridi’s Lahore activities, PTI Lahore president **Mian Akram Usman and Shabbir
Gujjar** were reportedly detained. Afridi responded by entering a police van while
demanding the release of detained party members.

Separate reports said at least 14 PTI workers were arrested in connection with rallies,
protests, road blockages and slogan chanting during the Lahore visit.

Afridi later claimed that more than 2,000 PTI workers had been detained during the
two-day Lahore mobilisation. That figure was presented as Afridi’s claim and should
not be treated as an independently verified arrest total.

## The Police Van Controversy

One of the most widely discussed moments of the visit occurred when **Sohail Afridi
entered a police van during a protest over the detention of PTI leaders**.

The vehicle later moved away with Afridi inside and he was subsequently dropped 
near Lakshmi Chowk.

Afridi described the incident as an “abduction” by authorities. However, Punjab 
Information Minister **Azma Bokhari rejected that account**, saying Afridi had voluntarily
entered the police vehicle. Video footage cited by news reports showed Afridi walking
towards and entering the van before refusing requests to leave it.

The episode quickly became a major political dispute, with PTI presenting it as 
evidence of mistreatment while the Punjab government strongly rejected Afridi’s 
interpretation of events.

## Why Was the Punjab Government on High Alert?

Afridi’s visit did not take place as an ordinary inter-provincial political trip.

PTI had announced plans for a **13-city Punjab mobilisation campaign** as part of
preparations for its September 27 protest drive. The planned route included several
major Punjab cities before reaching Lahore.

At the same time, authorities were preparing for possible demonstrations in Islamabad
and Punjab. This placed Afridi’s movements within a broader security and political
context rather than treating the visit simply as an official trip by a provincial
chief minister.

The Punjab government maintained that restrictions were related to security and 
public order. Afridi and PTI, meanwhile, argued that the measures amounted to political
victimisation and an effort to restrict their political activity.

## Political Tensions Between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The events also highlighted the political tension between the **PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
government and the PML-N-led Punjab government**.

Afridi repeatedly criticised the Punjab administration over its handling of PTI 
supporters. Punjab officials responded by rejecting his allegations and questioning
his political activities in Lahore.

As a result, routine questions involving security, public gatherings and police 
management became part of a wider political dispute between the two provincial leaderships.

## Public Disruption and Traffic Problems

The political mobilisation also affected ordinary residents.

Large numbers of supporters gathered at different locations as Afridi travelled 
through Lahore. Frequent stops by the convoy, police measures and road restrictions
contributed to significant traffic congestion in parts of the city, particularly
around the Walled City and central Lahore.

This added another dimension to the controversy: balancing the right to political
activity with security requirements and the movement of the general public.

## What Does Sohail Afridi’s Punjab Visit Show?

Sohail Afridi’s Punjab visit demonstrated how quickly political mobilisation can
become a confrontation when **security restrictions, opposition protests and competing
provincial governments intersect**.

The obstacles he encountered included Section 144 restrictions, police blockades,
detentions of PTI workers and disputes over access to protest locations. Afridi 
characterised many of these measures as political victimisation, while Punjab authorities
said their actions were connected to law and order and rejected some of his most
serious allegations.

The Lahore visit therefore became more than a provincial chief minister’s political
tour. It turned into another prominent episode in Pakistan’s continuing debate over**
political protest, policing, public order and the space available for opposition
mobilisation**.

**[SVP MUHAMMAD HASHER](https://www.bkenagic.com/)**