KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other party leaders raise their hands as they arrive for a PTI rally in Kohat. Photo: Express
KOHAT:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi struck a combative note on Sunday, calling on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters to remain on guard in anticipation of a possible protest call and revealing that the party was preparing to continue a fresh campaign for ‘Haqiqi Azadi’ from the country’s current leadership.
Addressing a PTI rally in Kohat, the chief minister termed this moment a point of no return, recalling a message from jailed party founder Imran Khan and warning that any future moves would come at a high price.
“So if we leave this time, we will either come back in a shroud or after getting freedom,” he told the gathering.
Afridi said Imran Khan had entrusted key decisions, including whether to hold talks with the government or launch protests, to Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) president Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
The two leaders are part of the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance, alongside the PTI, and were also nominated by the alliance as opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate.
“For my part,” Afridi said, “I met them and assured them of all support.”
“So whenever a call comes from them, you have to be ready. And together we will take Haqiqi Azadi (the country’s current leaders) away from them.”
The chief minister claimed that “all institutions and the government wanted to eliminate the PTI”, saying that even the judiciary had failed to address the party’s grievances.
Without naming specific actors, he said: “Those who are supposed to protect us are turning into killers, and those who were raised to protect our mandate have stolen it. Tell me then, what solution do we have?”
Turning to her political rivals, Afridi said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had recently offered her advice, but she should instead focus on her own province.
“Am I going to listen to them now?” he asked, adding that “our leader is Imran, and we will only listen to him. There will be only Imran’s politics and government here.”
He further claimed that according to a recent survey, the Punjab Police had become the most corrupt department in the country.
Afridi urged citizens to report corruption, assuring them that his government in KP would act on complaints. He also asked divisional and district administrations to keep their offices accessible and responsive to public concerns.
Provincial Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Aftab Alam Afridi said Imran Khan’s family and the chief minister himself were not allowed to meet the jailed PTI founder.
He condemned Imran being called a “security threat”.
“Yes, Khan was a threat, but only to those with business empires in this country.”
Referring to the Kohat rally, he called it a series of “warm-up matches”.
“And this time, when we leave, we will not return empty-handed,” he said, hinting at the prospect of unrest in the streets.
Addressing the gathering, PTI provincial president and MP Junaid Akbar said party workers “could never be threatened by police cases or press conferences”.
He said the PTI and its supporters were ready to protect the KP government.
“If anyone tries to impose the governor’s rule in KP, you must reach and lay siege to the governor’s house. We have protected our vote and we will also protect our government,” he said.
Akbar also said the party did not expect “bullets purchased with development funds” to be fired at its protesters on November 26, 2024.
“But I assure you that this time we will be dealing with bullets,” he added.
He said any decision regarding talks or protests would ultimately be made by Achakzai.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister Shafi Jan has warned that if CM Afridi is removed, authorities will be unable to contain public backlash. Meanwhile, MP Shehryar Afridi said the PTI would take Imran Khan’s case “to every corner of the country”.
“No power in the world could challenge Pakistan if the country was united,” he said, adding, “Imran Khan is a matter of pride for us.”
