Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Sohail Afridi was denied permission to meet the PTI founder at Adiala Jail on Thursday and returned after waiting for nearly two hours.

Speaking to the media at the Dahgal check post near Adiala Jail, CM Afridi said he had come to meet his leader and thanked all friends and supporters for their cooperation.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had congratulated him on assuming office, adding that he had informed both the Punjab and federal governments about his plan to meet the PTI founder.

“The prime minister said he would check and inform me, but there has been no response,” Afridi added.

The KP chief minister said his government had exhausted all options and would continue to pursue the matter.

“PTI has always resorted to peaceful protest, and those avenues remain open,” he remarked.

Responding to a question, CM Afridi said he would form the advisory council himself, stressing,

“Pakistan comes first, everything else is secondary.”

He added that details about his provincial cabinet would be shared after meeting the PTI founder.