PESHAWAR: The newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi — a passionate and energetic young leader more interested in bringing ‘Tabdeeli’ than in running the government — appears to lack a clear roadmap for achieving that perceived change.
Does he fully realise that his own party -- the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -- has been in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 2013 with the same slogan of Tabdeeli or “system reform,” yet tangible change has remained elusive?
An initial interaction with the newly elected chief minister offered valuable insight into his vision, political outlook, and approach to governance. Afridi believes he must continue his public struggle and strive for the release of his party leader, Imran Khan. At the same time, he maintains that if an engagement with the establishment became necessary, he would consider every possible option to ensure Khan’s release. However, he is well aware that both approaches have already been tested by his predecessor Ali Amin Gandapur. Ali Amin, too, slipped while walking dual paths, while deep factional divisions within the party remain a major obstacle to effective governance.
When repeatedly reminded that a chief minister alone does not constitute a government and that the provincial cabinet collectively represents the government, Afridi said he would form his cabinet after meeting Imran Khan. When asked what would happen if such a meeting was delayed, he eventually conceded that in that case, he would consult other colleagues and then announce the cabinet.
On the issue of terrorism in the province, when Afridi was asked who would deal with militants if the army was sent back to barracks. He did not offer a clear answer and instead responded, “When the terrorists were driven out, who brought them back?” What he did not seem to realise was that political analysts believed that many of those militants had returned during Imran Khan’s tenure, reportedly with the facilitation of General Faiz, and there are several records confirming that the militants had resumed movement across parts of Pakistan during that period.
It seems that the chief minister’s modest understanding of complex governance and security issues may create challenges in decision-making. Since he may not be able to make independent decisions, he would likely have to look towards incarcerated party founder for direction. In the absence of direct meetings, he may have to rely on consultation with senior colleagues, which could impact government functioning.
Some analysts believe that, given his inexperience and perceived lack of vision, Sohail Afridi will have to depend heavily on his associates. This could allow certain party leaders to gain significant influence over government affairs and decision-making processes.
