Sohail Afridi under house arrest is in safe hands, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday, offering the first direct official description of the detained chief minister’s condition since the federal government imposed an emergency in the province. Speaking on Geo News’ programme Jirga, the governor said there was no need for concern and that Afridi would face action if cases existed against him.
What Governor Faisal Karim Kundi Said
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who now runs the province, told the programme that Afridi and Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati were both being held under house arrest. He said that if cases were registered against Afridi, the former chief minister would be indicted, and that he would be released if none existed.
When the presenter asked why Afridi was not being freed if there were no charges, the governor replied that he could provide an update on the matter on Monday. He also said Swati would be released if no charges were found against him, while accusing the speaker, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of acting illegally and unconstitutionally in office.
Asked how many people had been genuinely arrested, Kundi said he did not have the figures. He claimed that between 40 and 50 per cent of those described as detained were in fact under self-imposed arrest or in self-concealment.
How the Detentions Unfolded
The federal government imposed governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 11 October, ending the authority of the PTI-led provincial government. Reports at the time indicated that the measures were taken under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. Afridi has not been seen publicly since that day. A federal minister confirmed the following day that he and some cabinet members were in preventive custody, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry described the arrangement as protective custody rather than an arrest.
The federal government has cited security concerns and what it called the provincial administration’s failure to address militancy. PICSS, a Pakistani security research body, recorded 1,232 attacks nationwide in the first nine months of 2026, most of them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Legal Questions Surround Sohail Afridi Under House Arrest
Until Sunday, no official had publicly confirmed the legal status of the detentions in detail, and relatives turned to the courts. Afridi’s brother approached the Peshawar High Court seeking his recovery and an independent judicial inquiry, arguing that the alleged abduction and continued detention violated fundamental rights. A cousin of Swati separately petitioned the court on the speaker’s behalf. The petitions ask the authorities to disclose where the two men are held, who has custody of them and under what legal authority.
The same court has also issued notices to the federal and provincial governments on petitions challenging the emergency and governor’s rule themselves. Those petitions were adjourned to 10 November. Lawyers for the petitioners have argued that a resolution of the provincial assembly was required, and PTI leaders maintain that the measures are unconstitutional and that Afridi remains the lawful chief minister. The federal government has not accepted that position.
Duration of the Emergency and Policy on Afghanistan
The governor also addressed how long the emergency might last. He described the decision as an absolute last option and said the question of what follows would be discussed once six months had passed. He added that, in his personal opinion, the arrangement might run longer, while acknowledging he could be mistaken. His reasoning was that the Centre and the province needed to act in unison against terrorism, and that the plans being prepared would take time to implement.
On relations with Kabul, Kundi distanced himself from reported remarks by Malik Khan Marjan, a member of the newly formed Area Representative and Development Council, who had favoured dialogue with the Afghan Taliban. The governor said the state’s policy was clear and that no talks with Afghanistan would take place for now. He condemned attacks on Pakistan launched from Afghan soil and criticised Kabul for what he described as allowing India to use its territory against Pakistan while still seeking dialogue.
What Comes Next
The governor’s promised update, the continuing proceedings at the Peshawar High Court and the hearing on 10 November are the next points at which the status of Afridi and Swati may become clearer. Until then, the position of Sohail Afridi under house arrest rests on the governor’s assurances, while his family and party continue to seek judicial confirmation of where he is held and on what legal basis.
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