CM Afridi Rejects Govt’s ‘Voluntary Displacement’ Allegation; Claims that the government wants to pit the KP government against the security forces
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has dismissed as “misleading and factually incorrect” the federal government’s claim that displacement of the residents of Tirah Valley in Khyber district is voluntary in nature.
Afridi, who belongs to Imran Khan’s PTI, has warned that if the notice is not withdrawn and an apology is not issued, he will call a jirga of the Afridi tribe in the district.
Addressing demonstrations in various areas of KP, including Mingora town of Swat, the CM accused the federal governments of trying to bring down the provincial government and state institutions.
He announced that all future communications with the federal government would be documented in writing and supported by evidence, and that such tactics would not be allowed to succeed.
The Information Ministry on Saturday noted “misleading claims” in circulation regarding alleged “depopulation” from the Tirah Valley on the orders of the army.
In a statement issued to the media, it said these allegations were baseless, malicious and driven by ulterior motives aimed at creating alarm among the public, disinformation against security institutions and promoting vested political interests. It said no directive had been issued to depopulate Tirah by the federal government and the armed forces.
Citing Khyber’s deputy commissioner, however, the statement noted that “a voluntary movement” of people in the valley reflected the views and preferences of the people, articulated through a representative jirga convened at the district level, “taking into account seasonal, logistical and contextual considerations, as well as a non-camp-based modality”.
Addressing another meeting in Chakdara, the CM said the recent announcement by the federal government claiming that Tirah affected migrated of their own volition was based on “blatant injustice” and “a denial of facts”.
He said the people of Tirah are going through the harshest conditions and the root cause of these problems “is the fake government established under Form 47 which ignored the realities on the ground and left the people helpless”.
The CM warned against using Pashtun regions as testing grounds for failed policies and asserted that he would remain steadfast in defending the rights of the province and its people.
“These people impose decisions made in closed rooms, and when those decisions fail, they back down. Decisions forced in secret often collapse when confronted with reality,” he said.
Declaring former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment unjust, he described it as a political sacrifice and said the party and supporters remain fully aligned with him.
He said PTI’s street movement is continuing all over Pakistan and the people of Swat and other parts of the country have clearly expressed their political will.
“Political parties that rely on financial incentives or material incentives to mobilize supporters will eventually fade as the dominant political voice in Pakistan remains that of Imran Khan.
“Unprecedented public enthusiasm was witnessed in Punjab, Sindh, Hazara, Peshawar region and Malakand. Supporters of Imran Khan’s vision have no political parallel,” he said.
The CM said the people’s mandate belongs to PTI founder Imran Khan and he derives his legitimacy from that mandate.
Sohail Afridi claimed that several tactics were used to prevent his appointment as KP Chief Minister, including the construction of various narratives portraying him as connected with smugglers and militants.
“After attempts like governor’s rule and regime change failed, there are now efforts to undermine public confidence in PTI,” he added.
He rejected claims that his party is hostile to the military or state institutions, stating that while they fully respect the institutions, they do not accept decisions made behind closed doors without a public mandate.
“Attempts to damage the image of the party would not succeed,” he added.
PTI’s street movement rally began in Mingora and ended in Chakdara, with large-scale public participation and receptions along the route, culminating in a massive rally in Chakdara.
In his concluding speech at Chakdara, the CM thanked the participants for their grand reception and said that the people of Malakand region have once again proved that this region has the full capacity to stand firm against oppression, tyranny and injustice.
“Public mobilization and Pashtun solidarity have sent a strong political message,” he said.
