Rally in Peshawar. Photo: Express
PESHAWAR:
As rumors of a possible governor’s rule grow louder and criticism of governance gains ground, the opposition Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance has warned that if such a measure is imposed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, “every square of the province will become D-Chowk”.
The alliance, which also includes the embattled provincial party PTI, said the latest stage of the “battle between truth and lies” had begun, arguing that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan represented the country’s true democratic force as political fault lines deepened and tensions simmered.
Speaking at a rally in Peshawar on Sunday, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who heads the alliance, said the movement had left its opponents high and dry by defending Imran, adding that under Pakistan’s Constitution, anyone who violated the Constitution should be treated as “a security risk.”
He regretted that those who raised the standard of the Constitution and the rule of law were sent behind bars.
Calling for a national conference, he demanded that judges, generals, clerics and politicians be brought together at the same table, proposing that such a forum serve as a bridge of forgiveness and reconciliation to “save the country.”
Achakzai said if the KP government was imposed, “every square in the province would become D-Chowk”.
“KP is not a laboratory”
Speaking at the rally, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was “not a laboratory” where outsiders can come in and impose decisions at will.
He said future policies will be shaped by consultation with provincial politicians, members of the provincial and national assemblies and tribal elders, and will be implemented accordingly.
Using metaphorical language, he said some “political crows” had tried to push him out of office, but as the “shaheen of Iqbal”, he would continue to rise higher and could not be harmed by such tactics.
He stressed that the PTI did not believe in confrontational politics and had always chosen the constitutional and legal path, without violating the Constitution and the rule of law.
He announced a 100 billion rupee development package for Peshawar, saying the city had remained a PTI stronghold since 2013 and the public had repeatedly given the party a clear victory in elections from 2013 to 2024.
Dismissing criticism over governance in the province, Afridi said if governance had been poor, his party would not have been able to form a government a third time.
Dismissing allegations that the KP government was not serious, he said those in power were carrying out “operation after operation and drone after drone”, and if their policies failed, they should change them instead of blaming others.
Afridi said “political jocks” were accusing him of only talking about the party’s founding president Imran Khan, who is incarcerated, adding that people should know their own name.
He claimed that when his name was proposed for the post of chief minister, allegations were leveled against him.
Targeting federal ministers, he lambasted “two political clown ministers” who held press conferences against Imran Khan, followed by a recent press conference in which “bad words” were used against him.
He said his upbringing did not allow him to respond to abuse with abuse.
Describing himself as a tribal man, Afridi said he loved Pakistani institutions and did not use abusive language against anyone. He said their elders and youth had made sacrifices for the progress and prosperity of the country.
While avoiding criticizing state institutions, the prime minister nevertheless castigated government leaders and also made a distinction between “false ministers, false senators and the spokesperson for an institution.” He added that while he was not speaking about himself, he would not tolerate statements made against his leader.
