Peaceful Protest Is Our Constitutional Right, This Is Not Anyone’s Personal Pakistan: KP CM Sohail Afridi
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that peaceful protest is a constitutional and legal right of every citizen, stressing that “this is not anyone’s personal Pakistan; it belongs to all of us.”
Addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, CM Afridi alleged that unidentified individuals in plain clothes were intimidating and threatening members of the bureaucracy, police, deputy commissioners (DCs) and district police officers (DPOs).
He claimed that over the past three to four days, “goons dressed in plain clothes” had been targeting PTI workers, organisational office-bearers and elected representatives across the province.
The chief minister alleged that Communications and Works Minister Shakeel Khan had been targeted in an assassination attempt and an attempt had also been made to abduct him, but the effort failed. He further alleged that similar individuals reached the residence of Irrigation Minister Riaz Khan and that party workers and elected representatives in Dera Ismail Khan and other districts were also being subjected to similar treatment.
Afridi claimed that MNA Fazal Khan was allegedly abducted in Mardan and that unidentified individuals also raided the residence of Fakhar Jahan. He said elected representatives and provincial ministers were being targeted.
“If provincial cabinet members are not safe from such elements, what will be the situation in the rest of Pakistan?” he questioned.
The KP chief minister said the alleged actions were unacceptable and claimed that those behind them were afraid of public support. He also expressed concern over recent statements attributed to Rana Sanaullah regarding the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as a statement attributed to Maryam Nawaz that Pakistan’s other three provinces posed a greater threat than India.
Afridi further alleged that all routes connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the rest of the country would be blocked, while other parts of Pakistan would remain open. He questioned the purpose of isolating the province from the rest of the country.
“Is there a conspiracy underway? Is an attempt being made to repeat a tragedy like East Pakistan?” he asked.
The chief minister said that Pakistan belonged to everyone and warned against any attempt to divide the country or separate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Pakistan.
“We were Pakistanis, we are Pakistanis and, God willing, we will remain Pakistanis,” he said.
Addressing bureaucrats, police officers, DCs and DPOs, Afridi urged them not to be intimidated and said they should not follow unlawful orders issued by any institution or department if the provincial government was not asking them to do anything wrong.
“This is not anyone’s personal Pakistan; it belongs to all of us,” he said, adding that peaceful protest was a constitutional and legal right.
Afridi said that as long as the Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful protest, his government and supporters would continue their peaceful struggle.
He urged the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across Pakistan not to be afraid, saying, “The more oppressive a person is, the more fearful he becomes.”
He called on people to stand up for their rights and continue their peaceful struggle, expressing hope that the period of oppression would soon come to an end.
