Afridi left Peshawar earlier in the day, but his flight, PK-201, was diverted from Karachi to Islamabad due to adverse weather conditions. The flight is now expected to depart for Karachi around 12:30 pm, according to airport sources.
During the visit, Afridi will meet party leadership, as well as lawyers, business organisations, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and media representatives in Karachi. At Islamabad Airport, members of the public took selfies with the chief minister, who was accompanied by provincial cabinet members and K-P’s members of the National and Provincial Assemblies.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Afridi said Sindh party leadership had shared the visit schedule and called for participation in planned activities, including a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday.
Read: Afridi set for Karachi leg of street drive
Dozens of supporters have arrived at Karachi Airport awaiting the Chief Minister’s arrival, and additional security has been deployed around the airport.
Earlier in Peshawar, Afridi said he was conveying a message from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, and urged supporters to participate in the street movement. He described the rally planned for January 11 at Mazar-e-Quaid as a major public gathering.
Planned itinerary in Sindh
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Shafi Jan said the visit, undertaken on the party’s direction, was aimed at strengthening the street movement in Sindh.
According to the schedule, Afridi will meet party leaders at Justice House, visit the press club, and hold a meeting with the Sindh chief minister. He is also scheduled to attend a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and take part in political activities in the South, Malir, and Korangi districts.
Sohail Afridi was expected to visit the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry during his visit to Karachi; however, the federation has addressed a letter to the K-P CM stating that the meeting “has been postponed due to unavoidable/unforeseen circumstances.”
On Saturday, Afridi is scheduled to travel to Hyderabad, where he will address the bar and press club, attend a party convention, and meet local leaders, while also taking part in political activities in Hyderabad and Kotri.
On Sunday, Afridi is expected to meet senior lawyers and traders and take part in political activities in Kemari and the West District, before concluding his visit with the rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and returning to Peshawar on Monday.
Turbulent Lahore visit
Afridi’s Sindh visit follows a visit to Lahore during which he was prevented from addressing supporters at Liberty Chowk after police blocked access routes. He later addressed PTI lawmakers at the Punjab Assembly, where confrontations between members of his entourage and security officials were reported.
Read: Afridi slams Punjab government for blocking PTI activities in Lahore
He was also barred from entering the cantonment area to meet party leaders and from visiting the city’s food street, which had been closed ahead of his arrival. Afridi later went to Zaman Park amid heavy police deployment, while reports emerged of PTI supporters being detained.
On Monday, Afridi lodged a formal complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the treatment he said he received in Lahore. In the letter, he described the Punjab government’s security measures as “extraordinary and excessive” and said they amounted to intimidation rather than cooperation.