Says negotiations for PTI founder’s release would require conducive political environment
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Photo:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said he is willing to hold talks with state institutions to address provincial issues and strengthen working relations, although Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has not given him the responsibility of holding talks with the establishment.
During one-on-one meetings with senior journalists in Peshawar, Afridi said the PTI founder had not asked him to negotiate with the establishment. He added that the responsibility for dialogue fell on Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas. “I am willing to hold talks with the establishment on provincial issues and improve relations for the sake of governance,” the prime minister said.
Talks on negotiations between the government and the PTI gained momentum last week when the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), in a meeting, chaired by coalition chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for dialogue.
The KP chief minister has struck a different tone, not only expressing his agreement with the talks but also saying that he would meet Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir if an official ceremony or meeting takes place. However, he also expressed concern over the fact that he was not allowed to meet the PTI founder, stressing that the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law must prevail in the country.
Afridi said negotiations for the release of the PTI founder would require a conducive political environment. He urged the PTI leaders to re-enter the political arena with determination, while defending the political activism of Imran Khan’s sisters, terming it legitimate and aimed at securing their release. He also called for an immediate end to drone strikes and urged the government to formulate policies in consultation with all stakeholders, including the establishment, in line with public interest.
Read also: Cabinet approves new local system for Islamabad
Highlighting financial grievances with the federal government, Afridi said Peshawar would develop, but not “like Lahore has been,” where, he claimed, restrictions had been imposed on public gatherings.
He alleged that the federal government had not released Rs 700 billion under the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) for the merged tribal districts, adding that only Rs 168 billion had been paid over several years. Including Hydel’s net profit and other dues, he claimed, the federal government owed KP more than Rp4 trillion. Of the Rs 1,000 billion allocated to the merged districts, more than Rs 700 billion remain unpaid, he mentioned.
He said the funds received from the Center would be spent in an organized manner in the merged districts, arguing that the development would help eliminate militancy. Afridi described law and order as his government’s biggest challenge and said efforts were being made to stabilize the situation.
Afridi said his visits to Lahore and planned visit to Karachi were aimed at mobilizing public support for the release of the PTI founder, adding that Imran Khan was a leader of the entire country, not just KP. The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s zero tolerance policy towards corruption and stated that transparency, merit, development and accountability were its fundamental principles.
Addressing displacement in areas like Tirah, Afridi said the provincial government would pay compensation to displaced people. He reaffirmed his opposition to military operations, saying that a large jirga convened by the provincial assembly had also rejected such operations.
Read more: Tirah protest leader released, terrorism charges dismissed
Criticizing media reports, Afridi urged journalists to verify information before publishing it. He said propaganda was being spread about the lack of facilities in schools and hospitals and accused his opponents of attributing 75 years of deprivation in the merged districts to his government. He added that conditions would improve if the federal government settled the outstanding dues.
On energy issues, Afridi said his administration was reviewing transmission lines, liabilities of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and ways to resolve the long-standing dispute over Hydel’s net profits with the federation. He did not rule out putting PESCO under provincial control.
Commenting on his recent visit to Lahore, Afridi apologized for using inappropriate language, calling it a reaction to what he described as mistreatment. He claimed that members of his entourage were detained after his convoy passed through certain areas and said such behavior had been anticipated in Punjab.
Afridi also confirmed that protests scheduled for February 8 would continue regardless of parallel negotiations. The chief minister said official vehicles of former ministers had been removed and offices sealed, while reports on the Peshawar-Dera expressway had been sought within 10 days.
He further announced that a cabinet expansion would take place soon, adding that ministers facing allegations would have to clear their names. Afridi said his government was focusing on governance and would present a performance report on its first 100 days in office.
