The Hyderabad High Court Bar Association on Friday refused to grant permission to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to address the bar, with the association’s president issuing a formal letter denying approval.

Bar President Advocate Ishrat Lohar said the decision was taken after a majority of executive members opposed the request.

According to the letter, 11 members voted against allowing the chief minister to address the bar, while only one member supported the proposal.

He added that the bar’s general secretary had earlier issued a permission letter to the chief minister on a personal basis, without formal approval from the executive body.

Despite the refusal by the bar association, Chief Minister Afridi is scheduled to visit Hyderabad on Saturday, where he will attend various events and lead a rally, according to party sources.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also faced a setback in Karachi after traders declined a planned meeting with the chief minister.

Sources said the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had initially extended an invitation but later withdrew it, citing concerns.

The decision was formally conveyed in writing to PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh, party sources added.