Web Desk; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Huzaifa Rehman said on Tuesday that the federal government has requested the Punjab administration to arrange a meeting between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI founder Imran Khan, aimed at facilitating the formation of the KP cabinet.
Imran Khan, who has been in Adiala Jail since August 2023, is serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case and also faces several cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the May 9 protests.
PTI has consistently raised concerns about the restrictions placed on meetings with the party founder, claiming that his family, friends, and party leaders are often denied access.
Chief Minister Afridi, elected last week, was refused a meeting with Imran Khan during his visit to Adiala Jail on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, Afridi said he would finalise his cabinet only after consulting with Imran Khan.
He added that he had informed both the Punjab and federal governments of his planned visit but received no reply. Afridi said he also contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directly, but his request to facilitate the meeting was not entertained, prompting him to petition the Islamabad High Court for permission.
In an interview on DawnNewsTV’s program “Doosra Rukh,” Huzaifa Rehman said, “I hope this meeting will take place in the coming days. The federal government has asked the Punjab government to make arrangements so the KP cabinet can be formed.”
When asked whether the Centre had issued a directive to Punjab, Rehman clarified that no formal order was issued since provinces are autonomous. However, he added that the prime minister had “urged” the Punjab authorities to proceed quickly, and the federal government had also made the same request.
He further stated that, according to his information, the Punjab government was developing a procedure and completing all necessary formalities to ensure the meeting takes place soon.
Meanwhile, during Monday’s KP Assembly session, Chief Minister Afridi said he had written letters to the chief justice of Pakistan, the federal government, and the Punjab government and even approached the Islamabad High Court to secure a meeting with Imran Khan, but all efforts had failed.
Afridi vowed to challenge the federal government over its continued refusal and said he would boycott any meetings convened by it.
