Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders affirmed on December 28, 2025, that the party would only engage in dialogue with the government after establishing a level-playing field through sustained street movements. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, visiting Lahore to launch the protest drive as directed by incarcerated founder Imran Khan, emphasized resistance as key to reconciliation. PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja echoed this, stating the party cannot accept silence on election fraud, Khan’s release, or institutional interference. Afridi faced restrictions on entering Lahore’s cantonment area to meet the families of detained leaders. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissed the movement as ineffective hype.
Key Highlights
- PTI denies entering dialogue as underdog; insists on street movements for equal footing.
- CM Sohail Afridi launched protest in Lahore per Imran Khan’s instructions.
- Reconciliation impossible without resistance, according to Afridi.
- Raja: Government wants PTI silent on election fraud, Khan’s release, institutional roles.
- Afridi barred from cantonment; demanded written reason for denial.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered talks on legitimate matters earlier in the week.
- Azma Bokhari ridiculed movement; said it failed to attract public, urged focus on KP issues.
PTI’s Strategy for Dialogue
The party’s stance reflects a calculated approach amid political tensions. Afridi told journalists in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority that entering talks without protest would disadvantage PTI. He promised practical results this time — no tall claims, just action.
The #PMLN leaders said that the former ruling party #PTI had adopted contradictory positions on negotiations with the government, warning that political uncertainty would persist unless dialogue replaced confrontation. https://t.co/0O8ATFE9NY
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) December 28, 2025
Raja added that no party can afford a dead end. Basic principles must be agreed upon first, or streets will force acceptance. The CM departed for the motorway around 6:40 pm after the meeting.
Restrictions on Movement in Lahore
Access issues highlighted inter-provincial frictions. Afridi attempted visits to residences of party leaders Mirza Afridi, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, and Hassan Niazi but was stopped at the cantonment. He questioned if it marked the end of Pakistan’s territory.
Lamenting the Punjab government’s harshness toward a provincial CM, he noted three days of such treatment. Raja confirmed Afridi offered to proceed without security, yet permission was denied.
Government Response and Critique
Opposition views clashed sharply. Prime Minister Sharif had proposed dialogue on legitimate issues days prior. Bokhari, via X, mocked the protesters’ overnight social media buzz yielding no daytime crowds. She urged them to return to KP and prioritize public welfare there — let Lahore breathe peacefully.
PTI’s commitment to peaceful street movements underscores the nation’s democratic spirit. As leaders push for fairness and accountability, such efforts foster unity and progress toward resolving political differences through dialogue.
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