KP CM Afridi defies federal critics
KP CM Sohail Afridi criticized federal ministers for attacking his counterterrorism efforts and called for a new policy that would restore peace within 100 days.
In a press conference in Peshawar, Amir Muqam slammed the PTI and Afridi for focusing on a planned long march instead of security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Later that day, Tallal Chaudhry and Attaullah Tarar held a briefing in Islamabad, pointing out flaws in the KP government’s leadership and resource use for fighting terrorism.
Ikhtiar Wali Khan and MNA Samar Haroon Bilour presented a white paper in Peshawar accusing the KP government of failing to equip police with sophisticated weapons.
Afridi said that providing resources alone would not solve the problem without a policy shift and reiterated that the state’s current counterterrorism policy was flawed.
He highlighted that the provincial budget had diverted Rs35 billion to the police force, doubled its allocation, and that the Special Branch was being modernized with new weaponry and gear.
Afridi accused the federal government of a dual‑standard policy, claiming one approach for favourites and another for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Azam Nazeer Tarar said that if constitutional conditions were met, governor’s rule or an emergency could be imposed in the province.
Amir Muqam warned that the CM’s tenure would not continue and accused the government of corruption and neglect of public welfare.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi met with Muqam and other leaders, urging the PTI to postpone its long march and to engage all stakeholders in a peace dialogue.
On X, Afridi responded to the white paper, asserting that the KP police and Counter‑Terrorism Department were equipped with modern weapons and capable of handling threats.
PML‑N leaders claimed that over Rs800 billion had been allocated to KP for counterterrorism but that the province failed to use the funds effectively.
Interior Minister Chaudhry criticized the KP government for not providing adequate resources such as bulletproof vehicles, training, and forensic labs, and for creating space for terrorists.
