CM Sohail Afridi Criticizes ISPR Briefing, Calls for National Jirga Instead of Closed-Door Operations

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has strongly reacted to the recent press conference by the Director General ISPR, stating that Imran Khan is the most popular leader in the country and that political statements made against him by a state institution are against democratic norms and damaging to institutional credibility.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said that despite 22 major military operations and more than 14,000 intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terrorism has not been eradicated. He emphasized that decisions can no longer be made behind closed doors, adding that the solution to the issue lies not in press conferences but in the implementation of a national jirga’s declaration.
Suhail Afridi clarified that opposition to a new operation is not limited to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alone, but is a unanimous stance of all political and religious parties in the province. He said linking the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and their democratic mandate with terrorism is an insult to the sacrifices of over 80,000 martyrs and their families.
Questioning the proposed strategy, the Chief Minister asked what guarantees exist for the success of a new operation when past policies failed despite the expenditure of billions of rupees. He alleged that terrorism has been reintroduced into the province and stressed that decisions should not be based on the will of an individual, but on broad consultation with stakeholders and elected representatives.