- Sanaullah criticizes the CM-elect for his fiery maiden speech in the assembly.
- PM’s aide says PTI should behave like a ‘political party’.
- He says the KP Assembly session should not have been convened.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday attacked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister-elect Sohail Afridi for his fiery maiden speech in the provincial assembly.
speaking in PakGazette news On the “Capital Talk” program, Sanaullah stated that Afridi’s speech did not comply with the Constitution or the law.
The former security tsar asked whether the speech given by the prime minister-elect was appropriate for the forum.
“Sohail Afridi is saying that he will not work with the federal government,” Sanaullah said, quoting the CM-elect.
Although provinces enjoy autonomy after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, they cannot challenge the federal government, the prime minister’s aide said.
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was passed in 2010 and among the changes it brought was the devolution of many powers and responsibilities from the Center to the provinces.
Referring to Afridi’s maiden speech in the KP Assembly, Sanaullah said: “If the prime minister-elect acts according to what he said in his speech, I don’t think he can function under the Constitution and the law as the head of a provincial government.”
Highlighting the erstwhile ruling party’s stand on counter-terrorism operations, the Prime Minister’s advisor said the PTI should behave like a political party if it seeks democratic and political treatment from the state and institutions.
Replying to another question, the PML-N leader said the KP Assembly session should not have been convened until the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was formally accepted.
The fiery speech of the CM-elect
After reiterating his loyalty to jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, KP CM-elect Afridi slammed the federal government in his maiden speech, highlighting the need to review the country’s policy towards Afghanistan.
Speaking during a KP Assembly session after being elected as the new leader of the house following Gandapur’s resignation, Afridi called for entrusting tribal elders and representatives to resolve the issue of terrorism.
Newly elected CM Afridi also addressed the issue of terrorism as KP has faced the brunt of the incidents along with Balochistan and said that where there is terrorism, the solution is to trust the elders of that area.
He insisted that the solution to terrorism involves consultation with the masses and their representatives.
“When they say there is terrorism, trust local representatives, parliamentarians, people and elders,” he said while calling for a review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy.
Lamenting that “a mentality” mocked tribal people when his name was nominated for the post of CM, Afridi recalled his political career and journey.
“I did not become prime minister through a ‘parchi’ [chit]. I belong to a middle class family from the tribal districts. Neither my father, nor my brother, nor my relatives are politicians,” Afridi said while thanking PTI founder Imran.
Stating that the tribal population was happy with the decision to nominate and elect him as KP CM, he said a campaign was launched against him.
Announcing that he will begin taking steps in this regard today, Afridi said: “I am an advocate of confrontational politics.”
“I have no cars, no bungalows, no money, no greed for a chair [of CM]. The day the leader says no to the chair, I will kick it.”
The young politician also warned that if the PTI founder was released from Adiala jail without consulting his family and the party, they would paralyze the entire country in protest.
“No one should think that I have reached this position and will deviate from it. [Imran’s] ideology,” he said.
Furthermore, reiterating the party’s stance on alleged fraud in the February 8, 2024 general elections, Afridi announced that he would launch an investigation into how their constituencies were stolen.
