In a video message, CM Afridi alleged that Punjab police had blocked routes, arrested party workers and removed tents from a protest camp as supporters gathered for the ongoing street movement. He also claimed that police had switched off lights along some routes and closed petrol stations to prevent vehicles carrying protesters from refuelling.

Afridi said he had remained in Lahore and would resume the street movement at 5pm. He claimed that a large number of Lahore residents had joined the movement on Monday despite his party not having issued a formal call for a protest.

“We had not told anyone where we were going. The people of Lahore came out themselves,” he said.

According to the KP CM, police detained several party workers in prison vans. He said he stood on top of one of the vehicles in protest and was later taken away in another police van after sitting inside it.

Afridi described the episode as his “abduction”, alleging that he was driven around Lahore for about 15 minutes without any security before being left on the roadside.

He termed the incident a serious security risk and accused the Punjab government and police of attempting to suppress his party’s political activities through what he described as a “well-planned conspiracy”.

The KP CM further alleged that raids were being conducted at people’s homes and that children were being abducted, while accusing the Punjab police of being politicised. He warned that his party would respond strongly if its activities continued to be obstructed.

Later, Afridi chaired a meeting of Punjab parliamentarians. Party leaders discussed further public mobilisation, with the CM reiterating his claim that Lahore residents had joined the movement without a formal protest call. Afridi said he was confident that the movement would succeed on Sept 27 and called on people to come out of their homes.

The Punjab government, however, offered a contrasting account of the situation. Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said medical staff and other employees in KP were protesting and observing strikes while Afridi and members of his cabinet were in Lahore.

She said young doctors in Dera Ismail Khan were on strike over their demands, while the Medical Stores Association in KP was also observing a separate strike. According to Bokhari, patients and their attendants at government hospitals were facing difficulties because of the protests.

She also said employees of Gomal University were continuing their protest, arguing that several sections of KP’s public sector were affected by industrial action.

“If Sohail Afridi chose to sit on the footpath at Lakshmi Chowk of his own accord, it is being described as a conspiracy against KP,” she said, referring to the KP CM’s account of events in Lahore.

Bokhari urged Afridi and his cabinet to return to KP and focus on provincial affairs, saying they had seen Lahore’s development and should now “go and look after their own province”.

She also criticised the KP government over what she described as incompetence, inefficiency and corruption, and accused the CM of being more concerned with the political situation surrounding a jailed party leader than with the problems facing people in KP.

The competing statements reflect broader political tensions between the Punjab and KP governments.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a “relief scheme” for owners of motorcycles, rickshaws and vehicles of up to 800cc. Under the scheme, owners of two- and three-wheeled vehicles will receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre on a monthly quota of 20 litres, while those owning vehicles of up to 800cc will receive the same subsidy on a monthly quota of 30 litres.

The statement said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review the administrative follow-up to the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.

“During the meeting, the deputy prime minister was apprised that the scheme was already operational in Islamabad and would be rolled out across Pakistan at 11:59pm on Sept 16, 2026.”

Dar stressed that the registration process must remain simple and accessible to ensure maximum benefit to the intended beneficiaries, the statement said.

The statement further said that the deputy premier “directed all concerned to ensure effective public outreach and smooth implementation at petrol stations”.

DPM Dar also urged elected representatives to disseminate information about the scheme and facilitate registration.

“He further directed that volunteers from the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme be engaged for public outreach and registration.”

In a separate meeting, chaired by the deputy prime minister, the ninth meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy was held to review the nationwide rollout of the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.

“Registration is now open nationwide through SMS to 9771. Redemption of fuel tokens will commence at midnight between Wednesday and Thursday,” the statement added.

During the meeting, DPM Dar directed that payments to fuel stations be settled within 24 hours through the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

He also instructed the provinces to complete district-level outreach to ensure the seamless delivery of relief to the intended beneficiaries.

Renewed hostilities in the Middle East, which have resulted in the disruption of major oil supply routes, have caused fuel prices to rise over the past two months.

In addition to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war, trade via Bab al-Mandab — which has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports in recent months — is also facing a rising threat from Houthi rebels.

As per the latest revision, petrol is retailing at Rs380.24 per litre while high-speed diesel is costing Rs409.42 per litre.

Meanwhile, the government continues to levy Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.