Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi was denied permission on Thursday to meet the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan imprisoned in Adiala Jail, marking the sixth time his request for a meeting has been rejected.

CM Afridi, head of Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI leaders Junaid Akbar, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, and other party officials attempted to reach Adiala Jail to meet the party founder.

They were held at the factory checkpoint (Factory Naka) and were not permitted to proceed to the Adiala Jail.

With the allotted visiting time expired, the delegation returned to their vehicles and left.

Speaking to reporters on his return, CM Afridi criticised the denial of access and said he would ask authorities why they had insisted on blocking the meeting.

He described the PTI founder as “our leader” and said, if the founder’s guidance were available, the province would make greater progress.

“What nuclear secrets would I discuss with the founder?, he asked.”

He also defended Pakistan’s security forces, emphasising that they are capable of handling any situation and should not be underestimated.

CM Afridi added that he wanted the military to focus on guarding the country’s borders and stressed his preference for resolving matters through democratic processes.