Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that he will lead two million people in a march toward Islamabad on September 27 if he is not allowed to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. Afridi made the warning while speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Thursday.

Afridi said he would return to Adiala only if the government itself confirmed the meeting. He said the prison situation suggested authorities had no intention of allowing him to meet Khan. He also announced nationwide road blockades from 10 p.m. Thursday under PTI's D-Chowk protest programme if permission for the meeting was not granted.

Afridi said the Islamabad High Court had instructed prison authorities on Tuesday to arrange meetings between Khan and family members and lawyers, and on the following day with party leaders. He alleged such court orders had not been implemented for months, including orders by three judges allowing two meetings weekly. PTI's media wing said protests had already taken place in several cities, while Afridi also announced a planned street programme in Bannu on Sunday.