PTI says Iqbal Afridi’s son sought asylum after harassment fears

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday defended National Assembly member Iqbal Afridi’s son after reports that he had surrendered his passport and sought asylum in a European country, saying the move was made because he feared detention and harassment.

The issue surfaced during a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, where Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry alleged that the son of MNA Iqbal Afridi had sought asylum in Italy. According to the minister, the young man was carrying a diplomatic passport and travelled to Italy through a European country that does not require Pakistani holders of official passports to obtain a visa before arrival.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram rejected that account while speaking to Dawn, saying he had personally discussed the matter with Afridi.

Afridi’s son is 28-year-old so he does not carry a diplomatic passport. According to rules, only dependents, which include children below 18 years and spouses of MNAs, can carry a diplomatic passport.

Waqas also said Afridi’s son had travelled through at least four countries before eventually reaching Italy. He said the lawmaker could not be held responsible for a decision taken by his adult son.

Afridi cannot be held accountable for the decision made by his 28-year-old son.

He further alleged that whenever authorities came to arrest Afridi, they would detain his son instead, and said this had left him with no choice but to leave Pakistan.

Moreover, it is a fact that whenever ‘they’ came to arrest Afridi, they would pick up his son. His son had no option left but to leave the country. They should reflect and feel ashamed that people are leaving Pakistan and seeking political asylum.

In a video message posted on X, Afridi said his son had earlier been abducted and that officials had also raided his house several times. He said his son had been forced to leave the country.

My son was compelled to leave the country.

Afridi also questioned the treatment of young people by state institutions and the government.

When these institutions and the government treat youngsters like this — not allowing him to speak the truth and not letting him post anything in support of his leader — then what will they do?

He said criticism directed at him over the matter was misplaced and added that his son’s departure had permanently separated them.

My son has been separated from me for life; they should be sympathising with me instead of criticising me.

Afridi further said National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had contacted PTI leaders around 40 to 50 days ago and had asked him about his son.

The speaker asked me about my son. I said he is independent and that fear was the reason for his leaving the country.

According to Afridi, when he asked the speaker what he should do, he was told:

You should not speak against the government and institutions.

Afridi said his son had left because of oppression and added that his family’s loyalty to Pakistan was beyond question.

My son left due to oppression.

We didn’t come to Pakistan from India; our ancestors were living in Pakistan before its foundation. Being loyal to Pakistan and the struggle for the rule of law and the Constitution is our only mission.

The statements from PTI and Afridi came after Talal Chaudhry’s remarks at the standing committee meeting, where he linked the asylum move to the use of an official passport. PTI, however, disputed that claim and maintained that Afridi’s son was not eligible to hold a diplomatic passport because of his age.