Police refute KP CM's claim of 'murder' conspiracy in Wazirabad, say detained constable was on security duty

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated on Wednesday that he and his security detail apprehended an individual who had been sent to kill him. However, Gujranwala Police refuted this claim, asserting that the detained man was Constable Muqadas Ali, who was deployed for Afridi's security. Afridi had been traveling to Punjab to rally party supporters ahead of a nationwide protest on September 27.

Earlier on Wednesday, Afridi released a video statement claiming that power supplies were cut off and generators were destroyed during his stay in Sialkot. He subsequently traveled to Wazirabad, where he claimed that his security team apprehended a "bearded man" armed with a pistol and handed him over to local authorities.

Both Gujranwala Police and Wazirabad City police stated that the detained man was Constable Muqadas Ali, who was deployed on security duty. Gujranwala Police detailed that the constable had been subjected to severe physical assault by members of Afridi's protection team, in front of the Wazirabad SHO who intervened to rescue him.

Wazirabad City police added that the "misrepresentation of facts" and portrayal of the constable as a "killer" was a serious concern. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari also echoed the police's stance, questioning why such behavior occurred when they reached Wazirabad.