- Sohail Afridi to meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah: Shafi Jan.
- The development of KP is reversed, the chief minister said.
- KP CM deplores the treatment meted out to Lahore.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday said he opposes all terrorist organisations, not just the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’.
The chief minister’s clarification comes after the government accused the KP government of facilitating terrorists, with Information Minister Ataullah Tarar calling the PTI the “political wing” of the TTP. The army spokesperson also said that the provincial government was responsible for the rise in 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 take up the issue of terrorism.
“I will meet the Prime Minister 100%. I will meet him because my province is affected by terrorism,” he assured journalists, stressing that “development” in the province was “being reversed” because of the threat.
He also mentioned that terrorists had been relocated to the province earlier. The KP CM said that all parties, including the provincial and federal governments, as well as law enforcement agencies, will have to join forces to fight terrorism.
“A decision taken collectively, with our contribution, will be effective,” he added.
The KP CM is in Karachi for his party’s street mobilization campaign. After his tour in Punjab, 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.
Speaking to reporters at the press club, Afridi said he had also visited Punjab but was not treated well there. “In Lahore, wherever we went to eat, the market was closed,” Afridi said, wondering where the Constitution prohibited a chief minister from engaging in politics in another province.
Commenting on Sindh, the chief minister said the legacy of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was still visible in the province. He added that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah assured him of cooperation during his visit to Karachi. He said that if the Sindh Chief Minister visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he would be given full respect and hospitality.
Afridi said social initiatives, including programs under Ehsaas, were underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, providing free medical treatment of up to Rs 2 million to citizens. He alleged that the federation was not releasing the share of funds that was due to the province.
The chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces the cheapest electricity in the country, benefiting the entire Pakistan. He added that if the province had received funds in accordance with its constitutional rights, it would have progressed further than other provinces.
Afridi said only one party with 17 seats was in the federal government, alleging 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 the Karachi airport, the KP CM was welcomed by Saeed Ghani of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who introduced him to Sindhi topi and Ajrak.
“I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.,” CM Afridi said in a message ahead of his visit to Sindh, which began after he landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi today.
The KP Chief Minister said he would spread the message of imprisoned 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 organize the biggest rally in the history of Karachi,” CM Afridi said.
However, contrary to the KP CM’s announcement, the district administration said that no permission has yet been given to PTI to hold a public rally.
Permission to hold a gathering will be granted after receiving security clearance, the administration added.
Meanwhile, KP CM’s Information Assistant Shafi Jan said that CM Afridi would also meet Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah on Monday (January 12) and also hold meetings with the party leadership at Insaf House followed by a visit to the press club during his stay in Sindh.
“A large gathering will take place in Mazar-e-Quaid on January 11. [KP] CM’s visit to Sindh is important to further accelerate the street movement,” Jan remarked.
Afridi will travel to Hyderabad today, his office said. According to Jan, the chief minister will address members of the Hyderabad Bar Council and the Press Club.
After his speech, he is expected to attend the ISF convention, meet the party cabinet and speak with local community leaders the same day. Afridi will also lead rallies in Hyderabad and Kotri, according to Jan.
Sindh government provides facilitation
Meanwhile, speaking about KP CM’s visit on PK Press Club News’ ‘PK Press Club Pakistan’ today, Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Memon said the provincial government would ensure free movement of CM Afridi and welcome him.
“KP CM will have complete freedom to go wherever he wants [during Sindh visit] and participate in political activities,” Memon said, while adding that the dignitary will be provided with necessary security and protocol.
Asked about the repercussions of possible political activities, such as traffic jams, the Sindh minister said the position of the provincial government is that the PTI should inform them about their political activities and, if necessary, provide them with land to hold any public gatherings.
Memon, however, warned against any activity contrary to the law or which would cause nuisance to the public.
“[KP CM] can undertake all the activities he wishes while respecting the law,” he stressed.
Highlighting ideological differences with the PTI, Memon said criticism is part of politics, but it should not result in intolerance.
PM’s aide warns against FIRs
Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the PTI was unable to launch any street movement, warning that its strike planned for February 8 against traffic jams was illegal and would not be permitted by law.
The Prime Minister’s aide, speaking on PK Press Club News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, said the party founded by Imran Khan 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 would have no grounds for complaint thereafter.
He went on to claim that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was himself engaged in illegal activities, adding that his movements were illegal. He maintained that there was no possibility of success for the PTI protest movement.
He said there was no objection to the political activities of the PTI in Karachi; however, he made it clear that the Sindh government would not allow any strike related to wheel locks.
