KP to participate in NFC session despite reservations: CM Afridi

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government will participate in the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting on December 4, stating that the province will “fight its case and that of its people to the best of its ability.”

The 11th NFC was established on August 22 of this year to finalize a new award for the distribution of federal resources divisible between the center and the provinces. Its first session, scheduled for August 27, was postponed several times (initially to August 29 and then to November 17 and 18) due to unspecified reasons and requests from the Sindh government and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Afridi claimed that the federal government owes KP Rs 1.3 trillion under the NFC and highlighted that although the former tribal districts were administratively merged with the province in 2018, their financial integration was yet to be completed.

“The share of NFC for the merged districts has not been delivered to KP since 2018,” he said, calling the delay a “constitutional violation.”

Afridi urged the federal government to consider KP’s proposals for lasting peace, warning that “decisions taken behind closed doors” negatively affect the province. He added that if the center adopts the province’s recommendations, the KP government will take responsibility for implementing them and maintaining law and order, stressing that all stakeholders must be included in decisions regarding peace.

The prime minister alleged that “those holding real power” have tried to push the PTI towards confrontation, but maintained that the party would remain peaceful and “not hesitate to make sacrifices.”

He claimed that peaceful protesters had been fired upon and alleged that PTI founder Imran Khan was being held in solitary confinement and that his relatives, including his sisters, were being denied visits.

Read: Kundi denies any attempt to impose governor’s rule in KP

Afridi said PTI MPs would stage a peaceful protest outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday and accompany Khan’s sisters to Adiala Jail, and that the provincial government would follow the directives of party leaders. He added that he had attempted to visit Khan in person on November 27 following reports about his health, but was denied permission, despite staging a late-night sit-in outside the prison.

CM Afridi alleged that while some chief ministers enjoy privileges such as use of PAF aircraft, his own name had been included in a passport control list.

Responding to questions, Afridi said that no part of the KP was under militant control, although he stated, without naming anyone, that “the entire country is under the control of one person.”

He also clarified that his family owns land in Tirah Valley, while he personally does not own any property.

Afridi dismissed a recent documentary about him as a distraction, adding: “The public knows everything. They know who is lying. We want everyone to focus on their responsibilities; only then will the country progress.”

PTI warns of protests in front of Adiala jail

Shafee Jan, Special Assistant to KP CM on Information, warned of a protest outside Adiala Jail if permission is not granted to meet the PTI founder.

Addressing the media, Jan said that all members of the National and Provincial Assemblies are scheduled to approach the High Court on Tuesday. “We will visit Adiala jail with Imran Khan’s family. If we are denied a meeting with his sisters, there will be a sit-in and protest,” he said.

He highlighted that Khan has not been allowed family visits since November 4, raising concerns about his health. Shafee Jan criticized the ruling PML-N, saying that while its leaders used to meet their “criminal” leader in London and consult with the cabinet during Nawaz Sharif’s stay abroad, they now fear Khan’s statements and images.

Read: KP CM Afridi heads inquiry into NA-18 Haripur survey

“Imran Khan remains the most popular political leader of the country and attempts are being made to silence him. The people elected PTI representatives on the promise of his release, and the only question from the public is: when will Imran Khan be released?” he added.

Jan also accused the federal government of neglecting funds for merged districts and police capacity building, claiming that more than Rs 3 trillion is owed in NFC, NHP and oil and gas reserves. He highlighted that on December 4, the province will present a forceful case at the NFC meeting.