PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Sunday said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) not only demanded hospitalisation of the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan for treatment, but also his release from prison.

Addressing a gathering, mostly attended by youth in Buner district, he said that shifting Imran Khan to hospital was not their sole demand as they wanted his release from jail. He said that Imran Khan would be released through the struggle of PTI and verdicts of court.

The chief minister asked youth to get prepared for the long march of PTI on September 27. He stated that he would lead the march and there would be no return. He added that there would be either Azadi [referring to Mr Khan’s release from prison] or ‘martyrdom’, and there was no other option.

He stated that the way Mr Khan had been offering sacrifices, the nation too would never hesitate to go to any extent. He said that people would offer their lives for him and would never step back.

Blames Centre, Punjab govt for turning down SC orders to shift party founder to Shifa hospital

Mr Afridi said that although he criticised the ‘establishment’ the most, the court orders for shifting Mr Khan to Shifa International hospital were, however, turned down by the PML-N-led federal and provincial [Punjab] governments.

He said that the SC bench had also ordered that Mr Khan’s sister and his personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan should be present at the hospital, but the PML-N-led federal government and the government of Punjab, which controlled Adiala prison, trashed the verdict, threw it in the faces of the three judges and gave judiciary a message that they were untouchable.

The chief minister stated that there existed two legal systems — one for the elite and another for the ordinary citizens. He vowed that he would not remain silent.

Calling Mr Khan a symbol of unity, he said that no one but only the incarcerated former prime minister and founder of PTI could restore dignity of the institutions, save the state, improve the country’s financial situation and restore integrity of Pakistan.

The chief minister told the gathering that Mr Khan had been in the prison for the nation and the generations to come. “This country is yours, the institutions are yours, you are the future and you will run the country,” he told the youth at the public meeting. He added that youth would decide future of the country.

He stated that pro-youth and pro-nation decisions of judiciary and institutions were welcomed. “If the decisions, made by judiciary or institutions, are not in favour of youth, then we rebel against such decisions,” he said and told youth that it was their responsibility to stand by Mr Khan.

Mr Afridi stated that no one talked about corruption. He alleged that conspiracies were being hatched against the country but, they would never allow the plans to succeed. He said that they would support the person, who stood by the country, who dared the West and fought Islam’s case on global forums.

He said that some people might try to divert the mind of youth, but they must remember that their leadership stood by Mr Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026