- Sohail Afridi to meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah: Shafi Jan.
- KP’s development is being reversed, says Prime Minister.
- KP CM regrets the treatment meted out in Lahore.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Thursday that he opposes all terrorist organizations, not just the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – also referred to as ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’.
The chief minister’s clarification comes after the government accused the government in KP of facilitating terrorists, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar calling the PTI the “political wing” of the TTP. The military spokesman has also said that the provincial government was responsible for rising terrorism.
Speaking to reporters at the Karachi Press Club, the chief minister stressed that he would also meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, if invited, to address the issue of terrorism.
“I want to meet the prime minister 100%. I want to meet him because my province is affected by terrorism,” he assured reporters, noting that “development” in the province was “being reversed” due to the threat.
He also mentioned that terrorists were shifted to the province earlier. The KP CM stated that all parties, including the provincial and federal governments, as well as law enforcement agencies, will have to come together to address the problem of terrorism.
“A decision made jointly, with our input included, will be effective,” he added.
KP CM is in Karachi for his party’s street mobilization campaign. After his Punjab tour, he is now in Sindh. From the airport, the KP Chief Minister reached the Karachi Press Club in six hours along with a large crowd of party supporters.
Talking to reporters at the Press Club, Afridi said that he had also visited Punjab but was not treated well there. “In Lahore, wherever we went to eat, the market would be closed,” Afridi said, asking where the constitution prevented a chief minister from engaging in politics in another province.
Commenting on Sindh, the Chief Minister said that the legacy of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was still visible in the province. He added that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had assured him of cooperation during his visit to Karachi. He said that if the Sindh Chief Minister visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he would be accorded full respect and hospitality.
Afridi said that welfare initiatives, including programs under Ehsaas, were underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, providing free medical treatment of up to Rs2 million to citizens. He claimed that the federation did not release the province’s due share of funds.
The Chief Minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was producing the cheapest electricity in the country, which benefits the whole of Pakistan. He added that if the province received funds according to its constitutional rights, it would have made more progress than other provinces.
Afridi said that only one party with 17 seats was sitting in the federal government and claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being treated unfairly. He claimed that while other provinces had received their NFC shares from 2018 to 2025, KP had not.
On arrival at Karachi airport, KP CM was welcomed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Saeed Ghani at the airport who presented him with Sindhi topi and Ajrak.
“I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi at 4.30 pm on Sunday,” CM Afridi said in a message ahead of his Sindh visit, which has begun after he landed at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport today.
The KP Chief Minister said that he will spread the word about jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to every nook and corner of Sindh and urged the people of Sindh to extend full support to PTI in preparations for the street movement. “We will hold the biggest rally in the history of Karachi,” said CM Afridi.
However, contrary to the KP CM’s announcement, the district administration has said that no permission has yet been given to the PTI to hold a public meeting.
Permission to hold a rally will be granted after security clearance is received, the administration added.
Meanwhile, KP CM’s Information Assistant Shafi Jan said CM Afridi will also meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Monday (January 12) and will also hold meetings with the party leadership at Insaf House, followed by a visit to the press club during his stay in Sindh.
“A big rally will be held at Mazar-e-Quaid on January 11. [KP] The CM’s visit to Sindh is important to further accelerate the street movement,” Jan noted.
Afridi will leave for Hyderabad today, his office has said. According to Jan, the Chief Minister will address members of the Hyderabad Bar Council and the Press Club.
After his speeches, he is expected to attend the ISF convention, meet with the party cabinet and hold discussions with local community leaders on the same day. Afridi will also lead rallies in both Hyderabad and Kotri, according to Jan.
Sindh Government ensures facilitation
Meanwhile, talking about KP CM’s visit on Pakinomist News’ program “Pakinomist Pakistan” today, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon said that the provincial government will ensure free movement of CM Afridi and welcome him.
“KP CM will have full freedom to go wherever he wants [during Sindh visit] and take part in political activities,” Memon said while adding that the dignitary will be provided with necessary security and protocol.
When asked about the consequences of possible political activities such as traffic jams, the Sindh minister said that the provincial government’s position is that PTI should inform them about their political activities and if necessary, they will be made available to hold any public gathering.
But Memon warned against any activity that violates the law or causes public nuisance.
“[KP CM] can carry out the activities he wants while complying with the law,” he noted.
Pointing out the ideological differences with the PTI, Memon said criticism is part of politics but it should not result in intolerance.
Prime Minister’s aide warns against FIRs
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah claimed that the PTI was unable to launch any street movement and warned that its planned February 8 wheel stop strike was illegal and would not be allowed under the law.
Speaking on Pakinomist News program “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, the Prime Minister’s aide said that the Imran Khan-founded party wanted to paralyze traffic on February 8, but such a strike had no legal cover.
He warned that if the party resorted to disruptive actions, it would face legal consequences, including registration of FIRs, and later would have no reason to complain.
He went on to say that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister himself was involved in illegal activities and added that his trip was illegal. He maintained that there was no possibility of success for PTI’s protest movement.
He said there was no objection to PTI’s political activities in Karachi; however, he made it clear that the Sindh government would not authorize any wheel stoppage strike.
