- Sanaullah criticizes the CM’s elected representatives for their first fiery speech in the Assembly.
- PM’s aide says PTI should behave like a ‘political party’.
- Said KP Assembly session should not have been convened.
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday attacked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister-elect Sohail Afridi for his first fiery speech in the provincial assembly.
Speaking on PK Press Club News In the program “Capital Talk”, Sanaullah said that Afridi’s speech was not in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The former security tsar questioned whether the speech delivered by the chief minister-elect was appropriate for the forum.
“Sohail Afridi says he will not work with the federal government,” Sanaullah said, quoting the CM-elect.
Although provinces enjoy autonomy after the 18th constitutional amendment, they cannot challenge the federal government, the prime minister’s aide said.
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was passed in 2010 and among the changes introduced was the delegation of many powers and responsibilities from the Center to the provinces.
Referring to Afridi’s maiden speech in the KP Assembly, Sanaullah said, “If the elected chief minister acts as per what he said in his speech, I don’t think he can function according to the Constitution and law as the head of a provincial government.”
Highlighting the former ruling party’s stance on counter-terrorism operations, the Prime Minister’s aide said the PTI should behave like a political party if it seeks democratic and political treatment from the state and institutions.
Replying to another question, the PML-N leader said the KP Assembly session should not have been convened until the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was formally accepted.
The fiery speech of the elected representatives of the CM
After reiterating his loyalty to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, KP CM-elect Afridi slammed the federal government in his maiden speech, which highlighted the need to review the country’s policy towards Afghanistan.
Speaking at a session of the KP Assembly, after being elected as the new leader of the House after Gandapur’s resignation, Afridi called for taking tribal elders and representatives into confidence to resolve the issue of terrorism.
Newly elected CM Afridi also addressed the issue of terrorism, as KP faced the brunt of the incidents with Balochistan, and said that where there is terrorism, the solution is to take the elders of that region into confidence.
He insisted that the solution to terrorism lies in consulting the masses and their representatives.
“Where you say there is terrorism, take local representatives, parliamentarians, the population and elders into confidence,” he said, calling for a review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy.
Lamenting that “a state of mind” made fun of the tribal people when his name was proposed for the post of CM, Afridi recalled his political career and journey.
“I did not become chief minister because of a ‘parchi’ [chit]. I belong to a middle-class family from the tribal districts. Neither my father nor my brother nor my relatives are politicians,” Afridi said while thanking PTI founder Imran.
Noting that the tribal people were happy with the decision to nominate and elect him as CM of KP, he said a campaign had been launched against him.
Announcing that he would start taking steps in this regard today, Afridi said, “I am a champion of confrontational politics.”
“I have no car, no bungalow, no money, no greed for a chair [of CM]. The day the leader says no chair, I will kick him. »
The young politician further warned that if the PTI founder was transferred from Adiala jail without consulting his family and the party, they would paralyze the entire country in protest.
“No one should think that I have arrived at this position and that I will deviate from [Imran’s] ideology,” he said.
Further, reiterating the party’s stance on allegations of fraud in the February 8, 2024 general elections, Afridi announced an investigation into how their constituencies were stolen from them.
