PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday granted interim protective bail to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi until November 18, temporarily preventing his arrest in any pending cases.
The newly elected chief minister appeared before a two-member bench headed by Senior Puisne Judge Justice Ijaz Anwar alongside Justice Muhammad Naeem Anwar. The bench heard Afridi’s plea for bail after his swearing-in earlier this week ended a political impasse over the province’s top office.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz asked the provincial advocate general whether any first information reports (FIRs) had been lodged against Afridi. KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel replied that the authorities were unsure how many cases existed, adding wryly, “It is possible there might even be one against me.”
The court accepted the plea and ordered that Afridi not be arrested until the next hearing. It also instructed that details of any criminal complaints be presented on November 18.
After the proceedings, Afridi spoke briefly to reporters outside the court, saying that the federal authorities “must understand that the chief minister of a province is coming,” referring to his planned visit to meet PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
Afridi said he had not yet met Imran since his imprisonment and denied reports circulating on social media regarding his prospective cabinet lineup, calling them “fake.” He confirmed that his cabinet would be finalised only after consulting the PTI founder. “No decision will be made without the approval of our lifelong chairman sahib,” he said.
On Wednesday, the KP Home Department had written to Punjab’s interior authorities requesting facilitation for Afridi’s visit to Adiala Jail. Following the court appearance, PTI lawyer Naeem Panjhuta said the chief minister had departed for Rawalpindi to meet Imran. CM’s digital media focal person, Yar Muhammad Khan Niazi, also posted a video on X showing Afridi en route.
Later in the day, the PTI claimed that authorities had prevented the meeting, calling the move “the real anti-Pakistan act.” The party said in a statement that “those in power fear the unity of Imran Khan and the people who support him.”
Speaking near Adiala Jail, Afridi told supporters he would not abandon them and said he had spoken to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier. “I thanked him for his call and requested that he allow the meeting with Imran Khan. He assured me he would look into it, but there’s been no follow-up,” he said.
Afridi said the provincial government was attempting all legal and constitutional avenues to arrange the meeting. “If justice is not served despite following lawful means, then peaceful protest remains our constitutional right,” he added.
