CM Sohail Afridi Slams ‘Closed-Door Decisions,’ Denied Meeting with Imran Khan Despite Court Orders
Rawalpindi: The **Adiala Jail administration** once again **denied Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi** and **PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja** permission to meet **PTI founder Imran Khan**, despite **clear directives from the Islamabad High Court**.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail on Thursday, **Salman Akram Raja** said he came with a **court order** but was still denied access for the **second consecutive week**.
### **“No One Is Above the Constitution”: Salman Akram Raja**
Expressing strong disapproval, Raja said, “Today, the **Constitution, law, and judiciary have lost their sanctity** in Pakistan. The Islamabad High Court’s Chief Justice, Sarfraz Dogar, had clearly ordered that a meeting list bearing my signature be provided to the jail administration, after which the meeting should take place.”
He detailed how, “Last week, we came straight from court, and after I signed the list, the Chief Minister was made to wait for hours but was not allowed to meet. On Tuesday, he came again — and was once more denied.”
Raja said he sent the updated list **via WhatsApp, TCS, and by hand** through Advocate Khalid Chaudhry on Wednesday at **3:45 PM**, but upon arrival today, police at the checkpoint stopped them. “It seems that in this country, **one man’s decision now stands above the Constitution, the law, and the courts**,” he remarked, calling it “a rule of coercion.”
“This is the **constitutional right** of the Chief Minister and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to meet their leader and seek guidance,” he added.
### **“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Is Not a Laboratory”: CM Sohail Afridi**
Addressing the media, CM Sohail Afridi condemned the repeated violations of court orders, saying he was forced to question “what options remain when **constitutional and legal doors are shut**.” He said letters had been sent to the **Punjab Home Department** and the **federal government**, but there had been “**no response**.”
Afridi announced that the PTI leadership would soon meet to decide the **next course of action**.
### **Criticism of Security Policies**
Commenting on the province’s deteriorating security situation, Afridi blamed “**wrong policies and closed-door decisions**” for the rise in terrorism. “Whether the one dying is a soldier or a civilian — he is the son of a poor mother. **No general, prime minister, or chief justice loses his son**,” he said.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is **not a laboratory** where experiments can be conducted at will,” the CM stated, accusing past decision-makers of reviving militants through secret settlements. He demanded that **no security policy** be made without the **consultation of the provincial government and local communities**.
### **Federal Funding and Provincial Rights**
Afridi also accused the federal government of **withholding provincial funds**, saying, “Journalists should ask the federation why it is not releasing our **NFC award share**, the **Rs100 billion for merged districts**, and billions in **Net Hydel Profit**. We are being treated like **stepchildren**.”
### **Jobs and Governance**
The Chief Minister announced that advertisements had been issued for the recruitment of **16,000 elementary school teachers** and **3,086 lecturers** across the province.
### **Party Unity**
Rejecting reports of internal rifts, Afridi said, “There are **no divisions** within PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The **Senate elections** have shown that the **party stands fully united**.”
The incident has reignited debate over **judicial defiance**, **federal-provincial relations**, and **civil rights**, with both Afridi and Raja accusing the authorities of **violating court orders** and **undermining the rule of law**.
