Afridi blames Center for Terror resurgence

PESHAWAR:

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has claimed that the resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the result of “flawed policies of the federal government”, accusing the Center of withholding funds for war on terror and other constitutional dues to the province.

He urged the federal government to release funds on time, saying this was important for the provincial administration to strengthen its police force and effectively fight terrorism.

“Unfortunately, the federal government’s flawed policies have revived terrorism in the province,” Afridi said in a statement issued Monday by the Office of the Press Secretary to the Chief Minister, after his first formal high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Peshawar.

In his remarks, the newly elected chief minister, who took charge midstream amid a host of challenges facing the province, including rising terrorism, assured that he did not take the reins of power “to rule in the traditional way”.

He declared zero tolerance for corruption and warned that anyone found involved in corruption would face stern action.

“All civil servants are public servants,” he said, adding, “if citizens are unhappy with any officer, that officer will not retain their position. I have not come to rule in the traditional way. We have to work differently so that people feel that their vote for PTI has really brought change.”

CM Afridi also praised the provincial bureaucracy and police for ensuring that the people’s voice prevailed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said on February 8, 2024, an attempt had been made to undermine the public mandate in the province, but commended provincial officials for standing their ground despite pressure.

The chief minister praised them for upholding the province’s traditions but lamented that some had failed to resist political interference. He directed the Chief Secretary to identify such persons and take strict action, noting that accountability must begin at home.

‘Difficult decisions’

Afridi also confirmed that the PTI is ruling KP under the lifelong leadership of the party’s jailed supremo Imran Khan and that it was the duty of the civil administration to implement the ruling party’s agenda.

“I will take tough decisions to implement our party’s agenda and they must be enforced,” he said, adding that no political figure would be arrested under Section 3 of the MPO and no political FIRs would be registered for revenge.

He emphasized that freedom of speech and constructive criticism are constitutional rights and promised that the political culture of the KP would be protected.

Placing law and order at the top of his government’s priorities, the CM promised to provide money and modern equipment to the police and said there would be no compromise on security.

Paying tribute to the martyrs of the KP Police and praying for their families, he acknowledged that “for decades, the KP Police has rendered unparalleled sacrifices in the war against terrorism.”

He also directed that no student should be booked in FIRs and no citizen should be subjected to personal or political vendetta, warning that “KP police must never become like Punjab police” and that torture in jails would not be tolerated.

The CM also ordered the creation of special housing enclaves for police personnel and media professionals in provincial housing schemes.

Condemning the federal interior ministry, Afridi said the bulletproof vehicles recently supplied to the KP police were old and substandard, terming it “an insult to the force” and ordered their return to the Centre.

He also directed that the security of former state ministers should be restored to ensure their protection and dignity.

The Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Tribal Medical College and a Tribal University of Modern Sciences with campuses across all merged districts, along with tehsil level playgrounds, a Safe City project and Shaheed Arshad Sharif University of Investigative and Modern Journalism.

He also led the preparations for a Peshawar Revival and Development Plan.

Afridi directed the authorities to integrate the E-PAD system with the provincial e-tendering mechanism, develop a conceptual examination system to end rote learning and enforce the two-year posting and transfer policy to eliminate recommendation culture and ensure merit.

Earlier, the meeting reviewed the provincial government’s road map for good governance, the law and order situation and anti-corruption measures.

The high-level meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretaries, Administrative Secretaries and senior police officials, while Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, RPOs and DPOs joined via video link.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the roadmap’s progress and explained that its primary objective is to improve public service delivery.

The plan, aligned with PTI’s vision and manifesto, focuses on public service delivery, law and order and economic reforms with action plans for each department. Afridi also received detailed briefings on the security situation, terrorist incidents and ongoing efforts to strengthen the police force through the provincial action plan.

Outreach to the public

Later, addressing the assembly, CM Afridi claimed that he would use “every legal and constitutional avenue” to secure a meeting with the party’s founder and if that meeting was blocked, he would take his case directly to the public.

Afridi launched a three-day public push to present his stance to voters across the province, saying he will address crowds in Charsadda on October 24, in Khyber on October 25 and in Karak on October 26. He also reiterated his promise that the provincial cabinet will be formed only after a meeting with the founder.

Afridi accused the federal government of sidelining KP’s rights and alleged obstruction on matters ranging from security equipment to the return of Afghan refugees. He repeatedly emphasized that he will not allow decisions made “in closed rooms” to be imposed on the people of the province.

“I will adopt any legal and constitutional avenue to meet the founder. If the permission is not given, then I will go to the people,” Afridi said. “On the 24th I will go to Charsadda, on the 25th to Khyber and on the 26th to Karak… I will present my case to the public and announce the roadmap for the future at the Karak rally.”

“If I speak about Imran, if I speak for the rights of the province and tribal areas, I will raise my voice loudly,” he said, adding that the KP cabinet “will be constituted after the meeting with the founder”.

‘Immature move’

On the other hand, Home Minister Talal Chaudhry has lashed out at the KP government for returning bulletproof vehicles provided by the federal government, calling the move “immature” and questioning the provincial administration’s use of Rs600 billion to fight terrorism.

Responding to CM Afridi’s claims about the vehicles, Talal Chaudhry said the bulletproof vehicles were “of international standard” and had been provided to protect KP police and security officials in the frontline of the war against terrorism.

“The federal government has so far given Rs 600 billion to the KP government to fight terrorism,” the minister said. “This money was given to strengthen the civilian armed forces, CTD and forensic laboratories. But where was this Rs600 billion spent? To this day, no clear answer has been given.”

He said the Center had provided security vehicles for use in high-risk zones, but the provincial government rejected them on the pretext of poor quality. “These bulletproof vehicles are of global standards and can be effective in the fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that similar vehicles are used by federal ministers and senior officials in terror-hit areas.

Talal Chaudhry further stated that “wherever these vehicles have been used, losses have been minimal”. He lamented that despite receiving huge sums of money from the Centre, KP police officers and soldiers were still being sent unprotected into dangerous areas.

“The brave officers and personnel of KP police are thrown in front of terrorists without adequate protection,” he said. “The Federal Home Secretary made these vehicles available in recognition of their sacrifices as they stand on the front lines of the war against terrorism. These vehicles were meant to protect our soldiers and intensify the fight against militancy.”

He argued that the vehicles were not only up to international standards, but also safe and modern, and that their rejection reflected an “immature and juvenile mindset”.

“Such people becoming chief ministers is an injustice to the public,” he said. “This immature and naive mindset is putting the lives of police officers at risk. It seems the provincial government is not interested in the complete elimination of terrorists.”

Talal Chaudhry said that besides these vehicles, the federal government had also procured bulletproof jackets, binoculars and weapons to ensure speedy eradication of terrorism.

“The federal government is cooperating with the KP government with full sincerity in the fight against terrorism,” he said. “But the provincial government’s childish thinking and political stubbornness are hindering the Centre’s efforts. The federal government will continue to extend its support to the KP police so that terrorists can be eliminated at the earliest.”