Says talks on release of PTI founder would require favorable political environment
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Photo: X
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said he is ready to hold talks with state institutions to address provincial issues and strengthen labor relations, although Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has not assigned him the responsibility of holding talks with the establishment.
Speaking 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 the dialogue had instead been given to Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas. “I am ready to hold talks with the establishment on provincial issues and to improve relations for the sake of governance,” the chief minister said.
Talks of talks between the government and PTI gained momentum last week when the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), at a meeting chaired by coalition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s call for dialogue.
The KP Chief Minister has taken a different tone, not only expressing agreement on the dialogues 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 that he has not been allowed to meet the PTI founder, stressing that the rule of the constitution and the rule of law must prevail in the country.
Afridi said talks on the release of the PTI founder would require a conducive political environment. He urged the PTI leadership to step back in the political arena with determination while defending the political activism of Imran Khan’s sisters, calling it legitimate and aimed at securing his 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.
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Highlighting financial grievances with the federal government, Afridi said Peshawar would be developed but not “in the way Lahore has been”, where he claimed restrictions had been imposed on public gatherings.
He alleged that the federal government had failed to release Rs700 billion under the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP) for merged tribal districts, adding that only Rs168 billion had been paid over several years. Including net hydel profit and other levies, he claimed, the federal government owed KP more than Rs 4 trillion. Of the Rs 1,000 billion earmarked for merged districts, more than Rs 700 billion is still unpaid, he mentioned.
He said funds received from the Center would be spent in an organized manner in the merged districts, arguing that development would help eliminate militancy. Afridi described law and order as his government’s biggest challenge and said efforts were on to stabilize the situation.
Afridi said his visit to Lahore and the planned visit to Karachi were meant to mobilize public support for the PTI founder’s release, adding that Imran Khan was the leader of the entire country, not just KP. The chief minister reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, saying transparency, merit, development and accountability were its core principles.
Regarding displacement in areas like Tirah, Afridi said compensation to displaced persons would be paid by the provincial government. He reaffirmed opposition to military operations and said a major jirga convened by the provincial assembly had also rejected such operations.
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Afridi criticized media reporting and urged journalists to verify information before publication. He said propaganda was being spread about the lack of facilities in schools and hospitals, and accused opponents of attributing 75 years of deprivation to his government in the merged districts. He added that conditions would improve if the federal government cleared the outstanding dues.
On energy issues, Afridi said his administration was reviewing transmission lines, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) commitments and ways to resolve the long-running nethydel profit dispute with the federation. He did not rule out placing 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 expected in Punjab.
Afridi also confirmed that protests planned for February 8 would continue regardless of parallel talks. The chief minister said official vehicles had been taken back from former ministers and offices sealed, while reports on the Peshawar-Dera highway had been sought within 10 days.
He further announced that a cabinet reshuffle would take place soon, adding that ministers facing allegations must clear their names. Afridi said his government was focusing on governance and would present a performance report on its first 100 days in office.
