The development comes days after Afridi was manhandled by police outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on November 27 while attempting to meet imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Visuals from the incident showed the CM being pushed, kicked and thrown to the ground — an episode the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) termed an assault on democratic rights.
Under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution, the President can impose Governor’s rule on the prime minister’s advice for an initial two months, extendable with parliamentary approval. Although KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said he would abide by any party decision, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reportedly assured him last week that he would not be replaced.
Afridi’s confrontation with security forces followed escalating tensions over reports circulating on social media claiming Imran Khan had died in custody. The CM, who has been denied permission to meet the PTI founder multiple times, warned that the government would be held responsible if any harm came to Khan. His sit-in outside Adiala Jail — joined by provincial ministers and hundreds of PTI workers — stretched through the night before he announced plans to approach the Islamabad High Court.
Despite repeated court orders since March 2025 allowing family access, Imran Khan’s sisters allege they have not been allowed to see him. As protests grew nationwide, police enforced a curfew around the jail, further fuelling speculation and public anger.
With political tensions deepening and security concerns mounting, Islamabad’s consideration of Governor’s rule signals a potentially decisive shift in the power struggle between the federal government and the PTI-led province.
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