Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday left the ongoing long march to chair a meeting of the provincial cabinet in the provincial capital. The chief minister's caravan had reached Khyber as part of the long march, but Afridi chose to return to the provincial capital and preside over the cabinet meeting himself.
The cabinet discussed several matters relating to provincial governance and took a number of decisions. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister condemned a meeting of senior officials convened by the governor, describing it as deeply lamentable and unconstitutional.
He stated that the province has a duly elected government with a two-thirds majority, while the provincial assembly, cabinet, and government are fully functional. The chief minister said the governor's summoning of the chief secretary and inspector general of police was an assault on the Constitution and democratic order.
"In the presence of a provincial government enjoying a two-thirds majority, convening such a meeting is unacceptable," he added. He directed the IG and chief secretary not to comply with any unconstitutional orders.
Afridi noted that the Constitution provides a clear mechanism for removing a chief minister through a vote of no-confidence. "If anyone has an issue, the constitutional procedure must be followed.
The objective behind these activities is to provoke the provincial government," he said. He further alleged that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is attempting to create circumstances similar to those that led to the separation of East Pakistan.
"We will not allow any conspiracy against the unity of Pakistan to succeed," he asserted. The chief minister claimed that the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has deteriorated due to the federal government's policies.
"14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations over 22 years have not delivered sustainable peace. After the loss of 80,000 lives, the absence of peace is a failure of state policy," he said.
He argued that the federal government must reconsider its approach, noting that the current policy is ineffective in both KP and Balochistan. He concluded that a policy developed in consultation with provincial stakeholders could establish peace within 100 days.
Afridi emphasized that the provincial government remains committed to the rule of law and will continue to strengthen the police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to ensure the safety of the citizens. He reiterated that the provincial administration would not be intimidated by federal interference and would continue to prioritize the welfare of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa above all political maneuvers.