CM Afridi praises provincial bureaucracy, police for ensuring people’s vote prevails in K-P
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREENGRAB
PESHAWAR:
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has claimed that the resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the result of the “flawed policies of the federal government”, accusing the Centre of withholding war-on-terror funds and other constitutional dues owed to the province.
He urged the federal government to release funds timely, saying this was essential for the provincial administration to strengthen its police force and effectively combat terrorism.
“Unfortunately, flawed policies of the federal government have reignited terrorism in the province,” Afridi said in a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Press Secretary to the Chief Minister, following his first high-level formal meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Peshawar.
In his remarks, the newly elected chief minister, who took charge midstream amid a host of challenges facing the province, including rising terrorism, assured that he did not take the reins of power “to govern in the traditional way”.
Declaring zero tolerance for corruption, he warned that anyone found involved in corruption would face strict action.
“All government officials are public servants,” he said, adding, “if citizens are dissatisfied with any officer, that officer will not retain their position. I have not come to govern in the traditional way. We must work differently so that people feel their vote for PTI has truly brought change.”
CM Afridi also praised the provincial bureaucracy and police for ensuring that the people’s vote prevailed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that on February 8, 2024, an attempt had been made to undermine the public mandate in the province, but commended provincial officials for standing their ground despite pressure.
The chief minister lauded them for upholding the province’s traditions but regretted that some had failed to resist political interference. He directed the chief secretary to identify such individuals and take strict action, noting that accountability must begin at home.
‘Tough decisions’
Afridi also reaffirmed that PTI governs K-P under the lifelong leadership of the party’s incarcerated supremo Imran Khan, and that it was the civil administration’s duty to implement the ruling party’s agenda.
“I will make tough decisions to implement our party’s agenda, and they must be enforced,” he said, adding that no political figure would be arrested under Section 3 of the MPO, and no political FIRs would be registered for revenge.
He stressed that freedom of expression and constructive criticism are constitutional rights, vowing that K-P’s political culture would be protected.
Placing law and order at the top of his government’s priorities, the CM pledged to provide funds and modern equipment to police, saying no compromise would be made on security.
Paying tribute to the martyrs of K-P Police, he prayed for their families and acknowledged that “for decades, KP Police have made unmatched sacrifices in the war against terrorism.”
He also directed that no student be booked in FIRs, and no citizen be targeted for personal or political revenge, warning that “K-P Police must never become like Punjab Police”, and that torture in prisons would not be tolerated.
The CM also ordered the creation of special housing enclaves for police personnel and media professionals in provincial housing schemes.
Denouncing the federal interior ministry, Afridi said the bulletproof vehicles recently provided to K-P Police were old and substandard, terming it “an insult to the force” and ordering their return to the Centre.
He also directed that security provided to former chief ministers be restored to ensure their protection and dignity.
The chief minister announced the establishment of a Tribal Medical College and a Tribal University of Modern Sciences with campuses across all merged districts, along with tehsil-level playgrounds, a Safe City Project, and the Shaheed Arshad Sharif University of Investigative and Modern Journalism.
He also directed preparations for a Peshawar Revival and Development Plan.
Afridi instructed authorities to integrate the E-PAD system with the provincial e-tendering mechanism, develop a conceptual examination system to end rote learning, and enforce the two-year posting and transfer policy to eliminate recommendation culture and ensure merit.
Earlier, the meeting reviewed the provincial government’s good governance roadmap, the law-and-order situation and anti-corruption measures.
The top-level huddle was attended by the chief secretary, inspector general of police, additional chief secretaries, administrative secretaries and senior police officials, while divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, RPOs and DPOs joined via video link.
Officials briefed the chief minister on the roadmap’s progress, explaining that its primary goal is to improve public service delivery.
The plan, aligned with PTI’s vision and manifesto, focuses on public service delivery, law and order, and economic reform, with action plans for each department. Afridi also received detailed briefings on the security situation, terror incidents and ongoing efforts to strengthen the police force through the Provincial Action Plan.
Outreach to public
Later, in an address to the assembly, CM Afridi asserted that he would use “every legal and constitutional route” to secure a meeting with the party’s founder, and if that meeting was blocked, he will take his case directly to the public.
Afridi set out a three-day public push to present his position to voters across the province, saying he will address crowds in Charsadda on October 24, in Khyber on October 25 and in Karak on October 26. He also repeated his pledge that the provincial cabinet will be formed only after a meeting with the founder.
Afridi accused the federal government of sidelining K-P’s rights and alleged obstruction over matters ranging from security equipment to the return of Afghan refugees. He repeatedly stressed that he will not allow decisions taken “in closed rooms” to be imposed on the people of the province.
“I will adopt every legal and constitutional avenue to meet the founder. If permission is not given, then I am going to the people,” Afridi said. “On the 24th I will go to Charsadda, on the 25th to Khyber and on the 26th to Karak I will present my case to the public and announce the road-map for the future at the Karak rally.”
“If I talk about Imran, if I speak for the rights of the province and tribal areas, I will raise my voice loudly,” he said, adding that the K-P cabinet “will be constituted after meeting the founder”.
‘Immature move’
On the other hand, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has lashed out at the K-P government for returning bulletproof vehicles supplied by the federal government, calling the move “immature” and questioning the provincial administration’s use of Rs600 billion provided for counter-terrorism efforts.
Responding to CM Afridi’s claims about the vehicles, Talal Chaudhry said the bulletproof vehicles were “of international standard” and had been provided to protect K-P’s police and security officials on the frontlines of the war against terrorism.
“The federal government has so far provided Rs600 billion to the K-P government to fight terrorism,” the minister said. “This money was given to strengthen the Civil Armed Forces, CTD and forensic labs. But where was this Rs600 billion spent? To this day, no clear answer has been given.”
He said the Centre had supplied security vehicles for use in high-risk zones, but the provincial government rejected them on the pretext of poor quality. “These bulletproof vehicles are of global standards and can be effective in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that similar vehicles are used by federal ministers and senior officials in terror-affected areas.
Talal Chaudhry further stated that “wherever these vehicles have been used, casualties have been minimal”. He lamented that despite receiving vast sums from the Centre, K-P police officers and soldiers were still being sent unprotected into dangerous areas.
“The brave officers and personnel of the K-P Police are being thrown before terrorists without adequate protection,” he said. “The federal interior minister provided these vehicles in recognition of their sacrifices, as they stand in the frontlines of the war against terrorism. These vehicles were meant to safeguard our soldiers and intensify the fight against militancy.”
He claimed that the vehicles were not only up to international standards but also safe and modern, and that rejecting them reflected an “immature and juvenile mindset”.
“Such people becoming chief ministers is an injustice to the public,” he said. “This immature and naive thinking is endangering the lives of police officers. It seems the provincial government is not interested in the complete elimination of terrorists.”
Talal Chaudhry said that alongside these vehicles, the federal government had also procured bulletproof jackets, binoculars, and weapons to ensure the rapid eradication of terrorism.
“The federal government is cooperating with the K-P government with full sincerity in the fight against terrorism,” he said. “However, the provincial government’s childish thinking and political stubbornness are obstructing the Centre’s efforts. The federal government will continue to extend its support to the K-P Police so that terrorists can be eliminated at the earliest.”
