Demonstration in Peshawar. Photo: Express
PESHAWAR:
As rumors about a possible governor’s government grow louder and criticism of governance gains ground, the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has warned that if such a measure is imposed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, “every square in the province will become D-Chowk”.
The alliance, which also includes embattled provincial ruler PTI, said the final stage of the “battle between truth and falsehood” had begun, arguing that jailed former prime minister Imran Khan represented the country’s true democratic strength as political divisions deepened and tensions simmered.
At a rally in Peshawar on Sunday, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who heads the alliance, said the movement had left his opponents on the defensive while defending Imran, adding that under Pakistan’s Constitution, anyone who violated the Constitution should be treated as “a security risk.”
He regretted that those who raised the flag of the Constitution and the rule of law were sent behind bars.
Calling a national conference, he urged judges, generals, religious scholars and politicians to sit at the same table, proposing that such a forum serve as a bridge of forgiveness and reconciliation to “save the country.”
Achakzai said if governor’s rule was imposed in KP, “every square in the province will become D-Chowk.”
‘KP is not a laboratory’
Speaking at the rally, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was “not a laboratory” where foreigners can come and impose decisions at will.
He stated that future policies will be defined through consultations with provincial politicians, members of provincial and national assemblies and tribal elders, and implemented accordingly.
Using metaphorical language, he said that some “political crows” tried to peck him out of office, but as “Iqbal’s shaheen”, he would continue to rise higher and could not be harmed by such tactics.
He stressed that the PTI did not believe in confrontational politics and had always chosen the constitutional and legal path, without violating the Constitution or the rule of law.
He announced a Rs 100 billion development package for Peshawar, saying the city had remained a PTI stronghold since 2013 and the public had repeatedly given the party a big victory in elections from 2013 to 2024.
Rejecting criticism over governance in the province, Afridi said if governance had been bad, his party would not have been able to form government for the third time.
Dismissing allegations that the KP government was not serious, he said those in power were carrying out “operation after operation and drone after drone”, and if their policies were failing, they should change them instead of blaming others.
Afridi said “young politicians” accused him of speaking only about the party’s jailed founding president Imran Khan, adding that people should know the name of their own leader.
He claimed that when his name was proposed for the position of Prime Minister, accusations were made against him.
Targeting federal ministers, he slammed “two political clown ministers” who held press conferences against Imran Khan, followed by a recent press conference, during which “wrong words” were used against him.
He said his upbringing did not allow him to respond to abuse with abuse.
Afridi described himself as a tribal man and said he loved Pakistan’s institutions and did not use abusive language against anyone. He said his elders and youth had made sacrifices for the progress and prosperity of the country.
Although he avoided criticizing state institutions, the prime minister criticized government leaders and also distinguished between “false ministers, false senators and spokespersons for an institution.” He added that although he did not speak about himself, he would not tolerate statements against his leader.
