AJK moves to digitise land records, streamline public services

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has accelerated work on a range of digital initiatives aimed at making public services faster, more transparent and accessible, potentially reducing citizens’ need to visit government offices repeatedly for routine matters. The initiatives, being implemented through the AJK Information Technology Board, include computerisation of land records, a one-window public service system, a complaints management mechanism and IT excellence centres designed to expand access to technology and digital skills. The progress on the projects was reviewed at a meeting of the IT Board chaired by AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani. Secretary IT and Information Rashid Hanif briefed the meeting on the ongoing initiatives and their implementation. Read: Gilani seeks wider tax net to boost AJK revenue The computerisation of land records is expected to make ownership and other land-related information more readily accessible to citizens while reducing dependence on paper-based records and lengthy administrative procedures. Digital records could also help improve transparency and reduce the need to approach multiple offices for land-related matters. Under the one-window operation, different government services are being brought under a single system so that citizens can obtain services through one platform instead of visiting several departments for a single matter. The proposed complaints cell is intended to provide citizens with a formal mechanism to lodge complaints and track their progress. The system will also allow authorities to monitor complaints and hold the relevant departments accountable for timely action. The IT Excellence Centres will focus on technology training and skills development, with particular emphasis on creating opportunities for young people to acquire modern IT skills and improve their prospects in the digital economy. Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Gilani directed the authorities to use modern technology to make government services easier, faster and more transparent for the public. Also Read: PML-N leadership urges prioritising healthcare, education, infrastructure in meeting with new AJK PM Gilani He said the government’s focus was on public service and initiatives that could bring tangible improvements to people’s daily lives. The prime minister particularly directed the authorities to establish an effective and transparent mechanism for the registration, monitoring and resolution of public complaints so that citizens did not have to make unnecessary visits to government offices and could receive timely relief. Principal Secretary Sardar Adnan Khursheed, Deputy Secretary Malik Hamid Siddique and other relevant officials also attended the meeting.

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Lahore police to begin using body-worn cameras after training

Training of Punjab’s police field force in the use of body-worn cameras has been completed, with the project being launched initially in Lahore, where docking points for the cameras at police stations are being installed. The body-worn cameras will be connected to Smart Safe City systems established in 43 cities across the province. Personnel of the Punjab Police, Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and traffic wardens will wear the cameras while performing their duties. The cameras’ digital facial recognition feature will help identify suspects. The state-of-the-art devices will also facilitate automated reading of motorcycle and vehicle number plates, while an instant threat alert can be generated in an emergency. Also Read:  The cameras are equipped with a calling facility for immediate communication. Police personnel will be able to record audio and video and take photographs through the devices. During duty, recordings will also be stored in the cameras’ built-in memory. After completing their duty, personnel will place the cameras at designated docking points, where the recorded data will automatically be transferred from the devices and securely stored. A ‘push-to-talk’ facility will enable field-duty officers to establish immediate contact with the control room, while an SOS emergency button will allow them to alert the control room in emergencies. The cameras will be connected to a central monitoring system, with live monitoring carried out at the respective district Safe City control rooms. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the body-worn cameras would not only facilitate monitoring but also help curb corruption. “Ensuring a sense of security among the public, particularly vulnerable segments, is the real measure of success,” she said regarding the initiative. She said protection of the life and property of every individual in Punjab was the foremost responsibility of the government. In a message on the International Day of Democracy, the chief minister said an informed citizenry, honest leadership and the rule of law were essential for the success of democracy. She termed accountability a key pillar of democracy and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to hold corrupt elements accountable. She said a systematic campaign against corruption was under way in Punjab. The chief minister said supremacy of the Constitution was the essence of democracy, while an active civil society and effective institutions were crucial for promoting and strengthening democratic traditions. Meanwhile, Naseerabad police in Lahore arrested two men for allegedly impersonating police officers and intimidating citizens in Gopal Nagar’s main market. According to police, the suspects, Muhammad Asif and Abdul Majid, were wearing police caps with white shalwar kameez and allegedly presenting themselves as officials. When questioned, they failed to provide proof of their identity or employment. Police arrested the two men and registered a case under Sections 170 and 171 of the Pakistan Penal Code for impersonating police officials and illegally using official police caps.

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Lahore police to begin using body-worn cameras after training

Training of Punjab’s police field force in the use of body-worn cameras has been completed, with the project being launched initially in Lahore, where docking points for the cameras at police stations are being installed. The body-worn cameras will be connected to Smart Safe City systems established in 43 cities across the province. Personnel of the Punjab Police, Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and traffic wardens will wear the cameras while performing their duties. The cameras’ digital facial recognition feature will help identify suspects. The state-of-the-art devices will also facilitate automated reading of motorcycle and vehicle number plates, while an instant threat alert can be generated in an emergency. Also Read:  The cameras are equipped with a calling facility for immediate communication. Police personnel will be able to record audio and video and take photographs through the devices. During duty, recordings will also be stored in the cameras’ built-in memory. After completing their duty, personnel will place the cameras at designated docking points, where the recorded data will automatically be transferred from the devices and securely stored. A ‘push-to-talk’ facility will enable field-duty officers to establish immediate contact with the control room, while an SOS emergency button will allow them to alert the control room in emergencies. The cameras will be connected to a central monitoring system, with live monitoring carried out at the respective district Safe City control rooms. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the body-worn cameras would not only facilitate monitoring but also help curb corruption. “Ensuring a sense of security among the public, particularly vulnerable segments, is the real measure of success,” she said regarding the initiative. She said protection of the life and property of every individual in Punjab was the foremost responsibility of the government. In a message on the International Day of Democracy, the chief minister said an informed citizenry, honest leadership and the rule of law were essential for the success of democracy. She termed accountability a key pillar of democracy and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to hold corrupt elements accountable. She said a systematic campaign against corruption was under way in Punjab. The chief minister said supremacy of the Constitution was the essence of democracy, while an active civil society and effective institutions were crucial for promoting and strengthening democratic traditions. Meanwhile, Naseerabad police in Lahore arrested two men for allegedly impersonating police officers and intimidating citizens in Gopal Nagar’s main market. According to police, the suspects, Muhammad Asif and Abdul Majid, were wearing police caps with white shalwar kameez and allegedly presenting themselves as officials. When questioned, they failed to provide proof of their identity or employment. Police arrested the two men and registered a case under Sections 170 and 171 of the Pakistan Penal Code for impersonating police officials and illegally using official police caps.

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CM Afridi leads second day of Lahore street movement amid heavy police deployment

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said preparations for the September 27 long march seeking the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan were complete as he led the second day of his Lahore street movement on Tuesday amid a heavy deployment of Punjab Police. Addressing the media and rally participants, CM Afridi said the party would disclose its detailed plan for the protest a week before the event and called on people to come out for their rights. He claimed that even a force of 100,000 police or military personnel could not stop what he described as the mobilisation of four million people. Read: CM Afridi accuses Punjab govt of political victimisation and manhandling at worker's residence in Lahore Afridi took to the streets from Shah Jamal after visiting the family of Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan, a former member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly who is currently under arrest. The rally, accompanied by a large number of party workers and supporters, travelled along Ferozepur Road, Mozang Chungi, Lytton Road and Jain Mandir before reaching Hall Road. A heavy police deployment was witnessed along the route of the K-P chief minister's rally. According to PTI, police forcibly closed shops and markets along the route and blocked roads and streets on both sides, restricting the movement of PTI workers, supporters and members of the public. "پنجاب پر جعلی حکومت نے لاہور میں کرفیو لگایا ہوا ہے، یہاں پرامن سیاسی سرگرمیوں کی اجازت نہیں ہم جہاں جارہے راستے بند کر رہے، افسوناک بات یہ ہے کہ ہم کل پٹرول ڈلوانے گئے انہوں نے پٹرول پمپ بند کردیا لیکن پٹرول پمپ کا مالک غیرت مند پنجابی تھا اس نے کہا یہ ہمارے مہمان ہیں ہم انہیں… pic.twitter.com/7rsJWkdBuI — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 15, 2026 The party also claimed that several PTI workers were arrested and that police conducted raids at the residences of party workers and leaders. It also alleged that police confined shopkeepers and citizens inside plazas at various locations to prevent them from joining the rally while claiming that police officials in uniform and plain clothes attempted to arrest workers at several points; however, members of the K-P chief minister's official squad intervened and secured their release. Speaking to the media during the rally, CM Afridi alleged that he had been abducted by Punjab Police the previous night and accused the provincial government of creating hurdles for his political activities. "I was being abducted," Afridi said, adding that he had been taken around Lahore's roads for about 15 minutes before being left on the roadside. "لانگ مارچ کی پوری تیاری ہے ستائیس ستمبر سے ایک ہفتہ قبل پلان بتایا جائے گا"۔وزیراعلی @SohailAfridiISF #LongMarchOnSeptember27th pic.twitter.com/6PuVzsxVfh — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 15, 2026 He said the Punjab government should be ashamed and warned that if anything happened to him in Punjab, the provincial government and Punjab Police would be responsible. Earlier, K-P Information Minister Shafi Ullah Jan alleged that Afridi could not have reached the location without being detained or stopped by police. "If the police did not arrest him, then how did Sohail Afridi get here?" Jan said, alleging that an attempt had been made to abduct the K-P chief minister. He further alleged that pressure was put on PTI workers who followed Afridi and that the chief minister was forced out of his vehicle after police saw party workers around the convoy. According to the PTI, Lahore chapter Vice President Mehr Naeemullah Taj was also arrested. The party also claimed that police raided the residence of senior PTI leader Lala Ishtiaq, who was not present at the house at the time, according to his family. In a video message earlier, Afridi criticised the media for what he described as a failure to raise its voice over the death of PTI activist Ishtiaq Ahmad. He repeated the party's allegation that Ahmad had been thrown into boiling oil during a police raid linked to Eid Milad-un-Nabi preparations. Afridi also warned the Punjab government and police against creating hurdles to the movement, saying that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was discussing its response and that a "very strong reaction" would follow if PTI workers faced the same treatment as the previous night. Speaking to workers, senior founding PTI leader Al-Haj Shaid Hussain praised Afridi's "courage and bravery" and claimed that Lahore residents had broken barriers to welcome the K-P chief minister. He accused the PML-N and PPP of practising "hate politics" and said the two parties had failed to address the problems of the people and the country. The street movement is being presented by PTI as part of its mobilisation ahead of the Sept 27 protest. Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen-ud-Din Qureshi, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, K-P Information Minister Shafiullah Jan, Shaukat Basra and others accompanied Afridi during the Lahore campaign.

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Cost of living, debt top Pakistanis' concerns: survey

Rising energy and fuel prices, the growing national debt and drug abuse emerged as the biggest concerns among Pakistanis, while public trust in state institutions remained relatively low, according to the National Citizen Survey 2026 released on Monday. The nationwide survey, conducted by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), sought to measure the gap between citizens' priorities and federal spending. According to a joint press release by IPOR and PILDAT, the survey interviewed 5,155 voting-age citizens through face-to-face, in-home interviews between August 23 and September 5. It covered all four provinces, rural and urban populations, as well as different age, gender and income groups. The survey had a reported margin of error of ±1.55%. According to the findings, electricity and gas prices were cited as the biggest national concern by 19% of respondents, while another 10% identified rising fuel and petrol prices as their primary concern. The findings also showed widespread concern over Pakistan's growing debt burden. About 66% of respondents said the rising national debt was a matter of concern, including 49% who described it as "extremely concerning". Only 5% viewed the debt situation positively. Drug abuse emerged as another major concern, with 79% of respondents describing rising drug use as "extremely dangerous". Overall, 90% expressed serious concern over the issue. The survey also found considerable scepticism about reporting on Pakistan by foreign-funded NGOs and think tanks. Some 43% of respondents said such reporting was either exaggerated or driven by a foreign agenda, compared with 25% who considered it fact-based. Social media and unregulated internet use also came under scrutiny. According to the survey, 56% of respondents believed unrestricted internet and social media use was a major factor behind what they perceived as a decline in social and moral values. However, the survey found differences between generations over the extent to which internet and social media should be regulated. Despite widespread perceptions about corruption in government departments, only 18% of respondents said they had personally been asked for a bribe by a government official during the preceding year. Around 77% said they had not experienced such a demand. The survey also measured public confidence in state institutions, with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recording the highest levels of complete trust among the institutions tested. About 33% of respondents said they had complete trust in the FIA, while 23% expressed complete trust in NAB. Parliament received complete trust from 15% of respondents, while the Revenue Department recorded 13%. The survey also highlighted difficulties faced by people seeking to establish and operate businesses in Pakistan. As many as 91% of respondents said they found it difficult to start and operate a business in the country. Taxation was identified as the single biggest barrier. The survey organisers said the findings highlighted a significant disconnect between public priorities and the allocation of public resources, particularly at a time when households were facing mounting cost-of-living pressures. The National Citizen Survey 2026 was presented as Pakistan's first nationwide public opinion survey specifically designed to examine the relationship between citizen priorities and federal budget allocations.

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CM Afridi accuses Punjab govt of political victimisation and manhandling at worker's residence in Lahore

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday accused the Punjab government and police of political victimisation, brutality and manhandling during his visit to Lahore to offer condolences to the family of a slain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, Ishtiaq Ahmad. Tensions rose outside the deceased activist’s residence as Afridi, accompanied by PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, reached the workers' home. They also encountered barricades and a heavy police presence. Afridi alleged that the Punjab govt attempted to "abduct" him and later "dumped" him on the street, saying such an attempt against a provincial chief minister was no small matter. He urged workers to remain peaceful, alleging that the situation was orchestrated by Punjab’s government to create chaos. “We have not come here to hold any political gathering or procession,” Afridi told police personnel. PTI strongly condemned the incident, calling it "the shameful and reprehensible conduct of the Punjab Police" towards Afridi. "انہوں نے اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی پھر یہاں سڑک پر پھینک گئے، ایک صوبے کے وزیراعلی کو اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی یہ چھوٹی بات نہیں ان پر اب پریشر آئے گا" وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی@SohailAfridiISF pic.twitter.com/RSrVeGYKkL — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 The statement said that the political differences were one thing, but "harassing or attempting to abduct" an elected public representative was absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. "Maryam Nawaz and her thuggish elements should feel ashamed of this disgraceful behaviour," it added. PTI said that the "power is temporary, but the violation of the people's mandate and the humiliation of democratic representatives" are always remembered in history. پریس ریلیز: پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف وزیر اعلیٰ سہیل آفریدی کے ساتھ روا رکھے جانے والے پنجاب پولیس کے شرمناک اور قابلِ مذمت رویے کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتی ہے۔ سیاسی اختلاف اپنی جگہ، مگر ایک منتخب عوامی نمائندے کو ہراساں کرنا یا اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کرنا کسی صورت قابلِ قبول نہیں۔… — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 K-P Information Minister Shafi Ullah Jan also strongly condemned it and said that said forcing an elected chief minister into a vehicle, withdrawing his security and leaving him without assistance was a serious matter for which the Punjab government should be held responsible. Jan said the incident in Lahore amounted to an affront to the democratic mandate and constitutional rights of the K-P chief minister. Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen-ud-Din Riaz Qureshi also condemned what he described as the alleged misconduct and attempted abduction of Afridi by Punjab police. He said such treatment of an elected chief minister was unacceptable and stressed that the public mandate, Constitution and democratic values must be protected. Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Punjab Chief Organiser Ammar Ali Jan and Information Secretary Shayan Bashir also condemned the alleged detention of Afridi, holding the Punjab government responsible for the incident. In a joint statement, they said a sitting chief minister had visited the family of a deceased political worker to offer condolences and should not have been detained by police of another province. They alleged that Punjab police had held the elected K-P chief minister against his will and described the incident as unprecedented in relations between the provinces. وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا @SohailAfridiISF کو پنجاب پولیس کی جانب سے اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کی گئی۔ مریم نواز کے گلو بٹوں نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ڈالے میں ڈال کر اغوا کیا اور دور ویرانے میں چھوڑ دیا، پنجاب پولیس نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ان کی سکیورٹی سے الگ کرکے زبردستی دوسری گاڑی میں… — Shafi Jan (@ShafiJanPTI) September 14, 2026   Responding to Afridi’s allegations, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari called it a “drama”, saying that they themselves went and sat in the police van while police officials were asking them to get off. “They scolded and pushed aside their own guard for obstructing what she described as a scripted drama and lazy acting," she said in a post on X. ایک اور ڈرامہ بازی ملاحظہ کریں،خود جا کر پولیس وین میں بیٹھ گئے،پولیس والے اترنے کو کہہ رہے ہیں،اپنے گارڈذ کو اپنا ڈرامہ بلاک کرنے پر جھاڑ کر پرے کردیا،فرمائشی اور سستی ایکٹینگ انکو عزت دے رہے ہیں لیکن یہ اسکے لائق ہی نہیں pic.twitter.com/CXVeRGAu0u — Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 14, 2026 Addressing media and PTI workers outside Ahmad’s home, Afridi accused the Punjab police and government of causing the death, saying the deceased was innocent. He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, referring to her concerns over security threats. “The Punjab police and the illegitimate Punjab government burned Ishtiaq Ahmad in hot oil; he was innocent and had done no wrong, yet he was killed,” he said. Ahmad had died after suffering burn injuries during a police raid while preparations were under way for Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH). The PTI alleged that the police were responsible for his death, claiming that he had suffered burns over 70 per cent of his body after falling into a vat of boiling oil amid chaos. He later died despite treatment. Afridi rejected security and protocol offered by the Punjab authorities and said he had come to Lahore as an ordinary citizen. “Punjab is mine, Pakistan is mine. I have come here as an ordinary citizen. I refuse to accept your security; I do not need your protection. The fake chief minister of Punjab claims she feels threatened by the three provinces of Pakistan but not by India, which is a shameful attitude. I am from Punjab, and Punjabis are mine. I have no threat from Punjab. The people of Punjab despise you. I am the people’s chief minister and I enjoy being among the people,” he added. Speaking about the PTI’s planned September 27 protest, he said the party’s struggle would remain within democratic and legal limits. He said the Constitution was the guarantor of national cohesion and equal rights and rejected violence and lawbreaking. “We do not support violence or lawbreaking; our only demand is that courts and relevant institutions make impartial and fair decisions in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he said. Afridi called upon citizens to participate in the September 27 protest, saying people would come out to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan and their rights. The Punjab Home Department had imposed a ban on large gatherings under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code until September 17. The order also prohibited rallies, demonstrations and the display of weapons, while exempting weddings, funerals and court proceedings. PTI leaders also alleged that authorities had obstructed their movement. Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi claimed that the K-P chief minister’s convoy was repeatedly stopped and attempts were made to arrest members of the delegation. “An attempt was made to arrest me, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Senator Aoun Abbas. Moreover, the police prevented us from going to the deceased’s home to attend the funeral,” he said. PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra also accused the provincial authorities of carrying out late-night raids and detaining hundreds of party workers, including women. The leaders alleged that the police had maintained a heavy presence during the funeral and rushed the rites to prevent family members and party workers from gathering. After offering condolences to the family, Afridi and other leaders proceeded towards Data Darbar in a rally. A large number of PTI supporters joined the procession as it passed through Mochi Gate, Lohari Gate and Bhatti Gate amid heavy police presence. After offering prayers at the shrine, Afridi proceeded with supporters towards the Lahore High Court to attend a function hosted by lawyers. The movement of the convoy and rally disrupted traffic in several parts of central Lahore. Severe congestion was reported around the railway station, Mall Road, Lower Mall Road, Regal Chowk, GPO Chowk and Circular Road, while traffic diversions forced commuters to use adjoining neighbourhood streets. Traffic jams were also reported around Ek Moriya Pul, Akbari Market Road, Delhi Gate, Wansan Wala Bazaar and Shah Alam Market. Sources said police forced shopkeepers to close businesses along Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and other markets during the time.

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CM Afridi accuses Punjab govt of political victimisation and manhandling at worker's residence in Lahore

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday accused the Punjab government and police of political victimisation, brutality and manhandling during his visit to Lahore to offer condolences to the family of a slain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, Ishtiaq Ahmad. Tensions rose outside the deceased activist’s residence as Afridi, accompanied by PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, reached the workers' home. They also encountered barricades and a heavy police presence. Afridi alleged that the Punjab govt attempted to "abduct" him and later "dumped" him on the street, saying such an attempt against a provincial chief minister was no small matter. He urged workers to remain peaceful, alleging that the situation was orchestrated by Punjab’s government to create chaos. “We have not come here to hold any political gathering or procession,” Afridi told police personnel. PTI strongly condemned the incident, calling it "the shameful and reprehensible conduct of the Punjab Police" towards Afridi. "انہوں نے اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی پھر یہاں سڑک پر پھینک گئے، ایک صوبے کے وزیراعلی کو اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی یہ چھوٹی بات نہیں ان پر اب پریشر آئے گا" وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی@SohailAfridiISF pic.twitter.com/RSrVeGYKkL — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 The statement said that the political differences were one thing, but "harassing or attempting to abduct" an elected public representative was absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. "Maryam Nawaz and her thuggish elements should feel ashamed of this disgraceful behaviour," it added. PTI said that the "power is temporary, but the violation of the people's mandate and the humiliation of democratic representatives" are always remembered in history. پریس ریلیز: پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف وزیر اعلیٰ سہیل آفریدی کے ساتھ روا رکھے جانے والے پنجاب پولیس کے شرمناک اور قابلِ مذمت رویے کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتی ہے۔ سیاسی اختلاف اپنی جگہ، مگر ایک منتخب عوامی نمائندے کو ہراساں کرنا یا اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کرنا کسی صورت قابلِ قبول نہیں۔… — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 K-P Information Minister Shafi Ullah Jan also strongly condemned it and said that said forcing an elected chief minister into a vehicle, withdrawing his security and leaving him without assistance was a serious matter for which the Punjab government should be held responsible. Jan said the incident in Lahore amounted to an affront to the democratic mandate and constitutional rights of the K-P chief minister. Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen-ud-Din Riaz Qureshi also condemned what he described as the alleged misconduct and attempted abduction of Afridi by Punjab police. He said such treatment of an elected chief minister was unacceptable and stressed that the public mandate, Constitution and democratic values must be protected. Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Punjab Chief Organiser Ammar Ali Jan and Information Secretary Shayan Bashir also condemned the alleged detention of Afridi, holding the Punjab government responsible for the incident. In a joint statement, they said a sitting chief minister had visited the family of a deceased political worker to offer condolences and should not have been detained by police of another province. They alleged that Punjab police had held the elected K-P chief minister against his will and described the incident as unprecedented in relations between the provinces. وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا @SohailAfridiISF کو پنجاب پولیس کی جانب سے اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کی گئی۔ مریم نواز کے گلو بٹوں نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ڈالے میں ڈال کر اغوا کیا اور دور ویرانے میں چھوڑ دیا، پنجاب پولیس نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ان کی سکیورٹی سے الگ کرکے زبردستی دوسری گاڑی میں… — Shafi Jan (@ShafiJanPTI) September 14, 2026   Responding to Afridi’s allegations, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari called it a “drama”, saying that they themselves went and sat in the police van while police officials were asking them to get off. “They scolded and pushed aside their own guard for obstructing what she described as a scripted drama and lazy acting," she said in a post on X. ایک اور ڈرامہ بازی ملاحظہ کریں،خود جا کر پولیس وین میں بیٹھ گئے،پولیس والے اترنے کو کہہ رہے ہیں،اپنے گارڈذ کو اپنا ڈرامہ بلاک کرنے پر جھاڑ کر پرے کردیا،فرمائشی اور سستی ایکٹینگ انکو عزت دے رہے ہیں لیکن یہ اسکے لائق ہی نہیں pic.twitter.com/CXVeRGAu0u — Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 14, 2026 Addressing media and PTI workers outside Ahmad’s home, Afridi accused the Punjab police and government of causing the death, saying the deceased was innocent. He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, referring to her concerns over security threats. “The Punjab police and the illegitimate Punjab government burned Ishtiaq Ahmad in hot oil; he was innocent and had done no wrong, yet he was killed,” he said. Ahmad had died after suffering burn injuries during a police raid while preparations were under way for Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH). The PTI alleged that the police were responsible for his death, claiming that he had suffered burns over 70 per cent of his body after falling into a vat of boiling oil amid chaos. He later died despite treatment. Afridi rejected security and protocol offered by the Punjab authorities and said he had come to Lahore as an ordinary citizen. “Punjab is mine, Pakistan is mine. I have come here as an ordinary citizen. I refuse to accept your security; I do not need your protection. The fake chief minister of Punjab claims she feels threatened by the three provinces of Pakistan but not by India, which is a shameful attitude. I am from Punjab, and Punjabis are mine. I have no threat from Punjab. The people of Punjab despise you. I am the people’s chief minister and I enjoy being among the people,” he added. Speaking about the PTI’s planned September 27 protest, he said the party’s struggle would remain within democratic and legal limits. He said the Constitution was the guarantor of national cohesion and equal rights and rejected violence and lawbreaking. “We do not support violence or lawbreaking; our only demand is that courts and relevant institutions make impartial and fair decisions in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he said. Afridi called upon citizens to participate in the September 27 protest, saying people would come out to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan and their rights. The Punjab Home Department had imposed a ban on large gatherings under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code until September 17. The order also prohibited rallies, demonstrations and the display of weapons, while exempting weddings, funerals and court proceedings. PTI leaders also alleged that authorities had obstructed their movement. Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi claimed that the K-P chief minister’s convoy was repeatedly stopped and attempts were made to arrest members of the delegation. “An attempt was made to arrest me, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Senator Aoun Abbas. Moreover, the police prevented us from going to the deceased’s home to attend the funeral,” he said. PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra also accused the provincial authorities of carrying out late-night raids and detaining hundreds of party workers, including women. The leaders alleged that the police had maintained a heavy presence during the funeral and rushed the rites to prevent family members and party workers from gathering. After offering condolences to the family, Afridi and other leaders proceeded towards Data Darbar in a rally. A large number of PTI supporters joined the procession as it passed through Mochi Gate, Lohari Gate and Bhatti Gate amid heavy police presence. After offering prayers at the shrine, Afridi proceeded with supporters towards the Lahore High Court to attend a function hosted by lawyers. The movement of the convoy and rally disrupted traffic in several parts of central Lahore. Severe congestion was reported around the railway station, Mall Road, Lower Mall Road, Regal Chowk, GPO Chowk and Circular Road, while traffic diversions forced commuters to use adjoining neighbourhood streets. Traffic jams were also reported around Ek Moriya Pul, Akbari Market Road, Delhi Gate, Wansan Wala Bazaar and Shah Alam Market. Sources said police forced shopkeepers to close businesses along Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and other markets during the time.

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