PPP’s Current Actions Appear to Be an Attempt to Create Another East Pakistan: Sohail Afridi

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of taking steps that, in his view, appear aimed at creating “another East Pakistan,” while strongly criticizing a meeting convened by the governor.

Addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, Afridi said the drama staged by the governor the previous day was highly regrettable and condemnable. He said a government elected with a two-thirds majority was functioning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that the provincial assembly, cabinet and government remained fully operational.

He said the governor was calling the chief secretary and inspector general of police and convening what he described as unconstitutional meetings. According to Afridi, the governor presiding over such a meeting amounted to an attack on the Constitution and democracy.

The chief minister said holding such a meeting in the presence of a provincial government enjoying a two-thirds majority was unacceptable. He added that the provincial government would not allow any conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan to succeed.

Afridi said the provincial government would seek the advocate general’s opinion on the constitutional status of the previous day’s meeting. He added that there was a constitutional procedure for removing a chief minister and that a no-confidence motion was the appropriate mechanism.

He said no one would be allowed to undermine democracy and alleged that the governor had acted unconstitutionally. Afridi further alleged that the governor’s activities were aimed at provoking the provincial government and forcing it to react.

Discussing the security situation, the chief minister said conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had continued to deteriorate following the resurgence of terrorism. He said former prime minister Imran Khan and his government had always supported the provincial police and people.

Afridi said that since taking oath on October 15, 2025, his government had continuously strengthened the police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch. He claimed that the provincial police had some of the most modern weapons and equipment available to any police force in Pakistan.

He said significant investment and measures were also being made to strengthen CTD infrastructure and the Special Branch.

The chief minister accused the federal government of treating Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unfairly, saying the former tribal areas were merged with the province in 2018 but had still not been financially integrated in full. He said the financial rights promised to the merged districts at the time of their merger had yet to be provided.

Afridi alleged that the federal government had continued imposing military operations on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2024. He said people displaced by federal policies had been protesting for compensation and claimed that around Rs100 billion in compensation for affected residents of the merged districts remained outstanding.

He said families who lost homes and relatives, and communities whose mosques were destroyed, were still waiting for compensation. According to Afridi, only Rs400,000 per household had been fixed as compensation for tribal families who had sacrificed their lives and property for the country.

He also claimed that the government had committed to providing Rs370 million to Rs380 million per month to displaced persons from North Waziristan at the Bakakhel camp, but said the promised amount was not being provided regularly.

Afridi said standing with displaced people was the provincial government’s responsibility and claimed that the government had provided Rs21 billion for displaced persons since taking charge. He added that the provincial government also had to bear responsibility for losses caused by military operations and drone strikes.

The chief minister urged the federal government to increase Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) and pay the province its outstanding dues.

He said the province had to fight terrorism while also dealing with the consequences of what he described as flawed federal policies. Afridi maintained that the provincial government and police were serious about restoring law and order and said police should not be used for personal or unrelated tasks.

He claimed that peace could be restored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 100 days if the policy recommendations of the province’s stakeholders were implemented.

Afridi said that despite 14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations over the past 22 years, lasting peace had not been achieved. He claimed that 80,000 lives had been lost during this period and called the continued security crisis a failure of federal policy.

He urged the federal government to change its counterterrorism policy, saying the current approach was ineffective in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The chief minister also alleged that Provincial Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan had been taken away, while PTI workers in Waziristan had been injured. He claimed that shots were fired at Shakil Khan and alleged that a person injured in retaliatory firing was subsequently described as a government supporter.

Afridi said these incidents were intended to provoke the provincial government and force it into making statements that could worsen the situation.

He said his government would remain peaceful and would speak only about the Constitution and the law. “I am a soldier of Imran Khan,” he said, adding that he had been taught throughout his political career not to engage in unconstitutional or illegal activities.

Afridi directed the inspector general of police and chief secretary not to comply with any unconstitutional or illegal orders.

He also ordered action against police officials allegedly involved in firing in South Waziristan and Upper Waziristan, saying those responsible should face proceedings if they acted as someone’s personal servants.

The chief minister further ordered an immediate inquiry against the SHO of Lachi, alleging that the officer had been involved in extorting money from people at gunpoint, and directed that he be removed from his post pending action.