KP participates in NFC session despite reservations: CM Afridi

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government will attend the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting on December 4, asserting that the province will “fight its cause and its people in the best possible way.”

The 11th NFC was set up on August 22 this year to finalize a new award for the distribution of federal divisible resources between the Center and the provinces. Its first session, scheduled for August 27, was postponed several times – initially to August 29, then November 17 and 18 – due to unspecified reasons and requests from the Sindh government and the Prime Minister’s Office.

At a press conference in Peshawar, Afridi stated that the federal government owes KP Rs 1.3 trillion under the NFC, while highlighting that although the former tribal districts were administratively merged with the province in 2018, their economic integration was not yet complete.

“The NFC share of merged districts has not been released to KP since 2018,” he said, calling the delay a “violation of the Constitution.”

Afridi called on the federal government to consider KP’s proposal for lasting peace and warned that “decisions made behind closed doors” are adversely affecting the province. He added that if the Center adopts the province’s recommendations, the KP government will take the responsibility to implement them and maintain law and order, stressing that all stakeholders must be involved in decisions about peace.

The chief minister claimed that “those with real power” have been trying to push the PTI towards confrontation, but maintained that the party would remain peaceful while “not hesitating to make sacrifices.”

He claimed that peaceful protesters had been hit by gunfire and alleged that PTI founder Imran Khan was being held in solitary confinement, with family members – including his sisters – denied visits.

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Afridi said PTI parliamentarians would stage a peaceful protest outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday and accompany Khan’s sisters to Adiala jail, where the provincial government is following the party leadership’s directives. He added that he had personally tried to visit Khan on November 27 following reports about his health, but was denied permission despite staging an overnight sit-in outside the prison.

CM Afridi claimed that while some chief ministers enjoy privileges such as use of PAF aircraft, his own name had been placed on a passport control list.

Responding to questions, Afridi said that no part of KP was under militant control, though he claimed – without naming anyone – that “the entire country is under the control of one person.”

He also clarified that his family owns land in the Tirah Valley while he personally owns no property.

Afridi dismissed a recent documentary on him as a distraction, adding: “The public knows everything. They know who is lying. We want everyone to focus on their responsibilities – only then will the country progress.”

PTI warns of protest outside Adiala Jail

Special Assistant to KP CM on Information Shafee Jan has warned of a protest outside Adiala Jail if permission is not granted to meet the PTI founder.

Addressing the media, Jan said all members of the National and Provincial Assemblies plan to approach the High Court on Tuesday. “We will visit Adiala jail with Imran Khan’s family. If we are denied a meeting with his sisters, a sit-in and protest will follow,” he said.

He highlighted that Khan has not been allowed family visits since November 4, raising concerns about his health. Shafee Jan criticized the ruling PML-N, claiming that while its leaders used to meet their “criminal” leader in London and consult with the cabinet during Nawaz Sharif’s stay abroad, they now fear Khan’s statements and images.

Read: KP CM Afridi leads probe into NA-18 Haripur bypoll

“Imran Khan remains the country’s most popular political leader and attempts are being made to silence him. The people elected PTI representatives on the promise of his release and the public’s only question is: when will Imran Khan be freed?” he added.

Jan also accused the federal government of neglecting funds for merged districts and police capacity building, stating that over Rs 3 trillion is due under NFC, NHP and oil and gas reserves. He stressed that on December 4, the province will present a strong case at the NFC meeting.