- Sohail Afridi to meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah: Shafi Jan.
- KP’s development is being reversed, says PM.
- KP CM regrets the treatment meted out in Lahore.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday said he opposes all terrorist organisations, not just the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’.
The Prime Minister’s clarification comes after the government accused the KP government of facilitating terrorists, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar calling the PTI the “political wing” of the TTP. The military spokesman has also said that the provincial government was responsible for the rise in terrorism.
Speaking to reporters at the Karachi Press Club, the prime minister stressed that he would also meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, if invited, to address the issue of terrorism.
“I will meet the Prime Minister 100%. I will meet him because my province is being affected by terrorism,” he assured reporters, noting that “development” in the province was being “reversed” due to the threat.
He also mentioned that the terrorists were previously relocated to the province. The KP CM stated that all parties, including the provincial and federal governments as well as law enforcement agencies, will have to join forces to address the issue of terrorism.
“A decision made collectively, with our contributions included, will be effective,” he added.
The KP CM is in Karachi for his party’s street mobilization campaign. After his tour of Punjab, he is now in Sindh. From the airport, the KP chief minister reached the Karachi Press Club in six hours along with a large crowd of party supporters.
Speaking to reporters at the press club, Afridi said he had also visited Punjab but was not treated well there. “In Lahore, wherever we went to eat, the market was closed,” Afridi said, questioning whether the Constitution prohibited a prime minister from participating in politics in another province.
Commenting on Sindh, the prime minister said the legacy of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was still visible in the province. He added that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had assured him of cooperation during his visit to Karachi. He said that if the Sindh chief minister visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he would be extended full respect and hospitality.
Afridi said welfare initiatives were being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Ehsaas programmes, which provided free medical treatment worth up to Rs 2 million to citizens. He alleged that the federation was not releasing the province’s share of funds.
The prime minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was producing the cheapest electricity in the country, benefiting all of Pakistan. He added that if the province had received funding in accordance with its constitutional rights, it would have made more progress than other provinces.
Afridi said only one party with 17 seats held positions in the federal government, alleging that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being treated unfairly. He stated that while other provinces had received their NFC shares from 2018 to 2025, KP had not.
Upon arrival at Karachi airport, the KP CM was received at the airport by Saeed Ghani of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who presented him with Sindhi topi and Ajrak.
“I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi at 4:30 pm on Sunday,” CM Afridi said in a message ahead of his visit to Sindh, which began after landing at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport today.
The KP chief minister said he will spread the message of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to every corner of Sindh and urged the people of Sindh to extend all their support to the PTI in preparations for the street movement. “We will hold the biggest rally in the history of Karachi,” CM Afridi said.
However, contrary to the KP CM’s announcement, the district administration has said that the PTI has not yet been given permission to hold a public rally.
Permission to hold a rally will be granted after receiving security clearance, the administration added.
Meanwhile, KP CM’s information assistant Shafi Jan said that CM Afridi will also meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Monday (January 12) and will also hold meetings with party leaders at Insaf House, followed by a visit to the press club during his stay in Sindh.
“A big rally will be held on January 11 at Mazar-e-Quaid. [KP] CM’s visit to Sindh is important to further accelerate the street movement,” Jan said.
Afridi will travel to Hyderabad today, his office said. According to Jan, the Prime Minister will address the members of the Hyderabad Bar Association and the Press Club.
Following his speeches, he is expected to attend the ISF Convention, meet with the party cabinet and hold talks with local community leaders on the same day. Afridi will also lead protests in both Hyderabad and Kotri, according to January 1.
Sindh Government Ensures Facilitation
Meanwhile, speaking about KP CM’s visit on PakGazette News program ‘PakGazette Pakistan’ today, Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Memon said that the provincial government will ensure free movement of CM Afridi and welcome him.
“KP CM will have full freedom to go wherever he wants [during Sindh visit] and participate in political activities,” Memon said, while adding that the dignitary will be provided with due security and protocol.
When asked about the repercussions of possible political activities such as traffic jams, the Sindh minister said the provincial government’s stance is that the PTI should inform them about their political activities and if necessary, they would be provided with land to hold any public meeting.
However, Memon warned against any activity contrary to the law or causing public nuisance.
“[KP CM] “You can carry out any activity you want while respecting the law,” he noted.
Pointing out the ideological differences with the PTI, Memon stated that criticism is part of politics, but it should not result in intolerance.
PM’s aide warns about FIRs
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah claimed that the PTI was not in a position to launch any street movement, warning that its planned strike on February 8 was illegal and would not be permitted by law.
The prime minister’s aide, speaking on PakGazette News program “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, said the party founded by Imran Khan wanted to paralyze traffic on February 8, but such a strike had no legal cover.
He warned that if the party resorted to any disruptive action, it would face legal consequences, including registration of FIR, and would then have no reason to file a complaint.
He went on to say that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was involved in illegal activities and added that his trip was illegal. He maintained that there was no chance of success for the PTI protest movement.
He said there was no objection to PTI’s political activities in Karachi; However, he made it clear that the Sindh government would not grant permission for any strike over wheel jams.
