Rally in Peshawar. Photo: Express
PESHAWAR:
As whispers of a possible governor’s rule grow louder and criticism of governance gains ground, the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has warned that if such a step is imposed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, “every square of the province will become D-Chowk”.
The alliance, which also includes the embattled provincial ruling PTI, said the final stage of the “battle between truth and falsehood” had begun, arguing that imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan represented the country’s true democratic force as political fault lines deepened and tensions simmered.
Speaking at a rally in Peshawar on Sunday, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who heads the alliance, said the movement had left its opponents on the back foot while defending Imran, adding that, under the Constitution of Pakistan, anyone who violated the Constitution should be treated as “a security risk”.
He expressed regret that those who raised the banner of the Constitution and the rule of law were being sent behind bars.
Calling for a national conference, he urged that judges, generals, religious scholars and politicians be brought to the same table, proposing that such a forum serve as a bridge of forgiveness and reconciliation to “save the country”.
Achakzai said if governor’s rule was imposed in K-P, “every square of the province will become D-Chowk”.
‘K-P not a laboratory’
Speaking at the rally, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa was “not a laboratory” where outsiders can arrive and impose decisions at will.
He asserted that future policies will be shaped through consultation with the province’s politicians, members of the provincial and national assemblies and tribal elders, and will be implemented accordingly.
Using metaphorical language, he said some “political crows” tried to peck him into leaving the office, but as “Iqbal’s shaheen”, he would continue to soar higher and could not be harmed by such tactics.
He stressed that PTI did not believe in politics of confrontation, and had always chosen the constitutional and legal path, without violating the Constitution or the rule of law.
He announced a Rs100 billion development package for Peshawar, saying that the city had remained a stronghold of PTI since 2013 and that the public had repeatedly given the party a clean sweep in elections from 2013 to 2024.
Rejecting criticism about governance in the province, Afridi said that if governance had been poor, his party would not have been able to form a government for a third time.
Dismissing allegations that the K-P government was not serious, he said those in power were conducting “operation after operation and drone after drone,” and that if their policies were failing, they should change them instead of blaming others.
Afridi said “political juveniles” accused him of speaking only about the party’s incarcerated founding chairman Imran Khan, adding that people should know the name of their own leader.
He claimed that when his name was proposed for the office of chief minister, allegations were levelled against him.
Taking aim at the federal ministers, he slammed “two political clown ministers” who held press conferences against Imran Khan, followed by a recent press conference, during which “wrong words” were used against him.
He said his upbringing did not allow him to respond to abuse with abuse.
Describing himself as a tribal man, Afridi said he loved Pakistan’s institutions and did not use abusive language against anyone. He said their elders and youth had made sacrifices for the country’s progress and prosperity.
While avoiding criticism of state institutions, the chief minister nonetheless blasted the government leaders and also drew a distinction between “fake ministers, fake senators and an institution’s spokesperson”. He added that while he did not speak about himself, he would not tolerate statements made against his leader.
