BARA: Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday opposed a military operation in the Tirah Valley of his native Khyber tribal district, calling it an attempt to create an anti-government environment under the pretext of fabricated terrorism narratives.
“An organized propaganda is falsely portraying that permission has been granted for an operation. Conducting an operation during heavy snowfall in Tirah is beyond comprehension,” he said while speaking at a jirga of local elders and residents in Bara tehsil during his brief visit to the area.
The chief minister said that the KP government aligns with Imran Khan’s stance on military operations. “If the intent was to maintain peace, the provincial government would have been taken into confidence, as decisions made behind closed doors often lead to losses,” he added.
Recalling his efforts, he noted that the KP government had recently convened the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Grand Peace Jirga” to establish lasting peace in the province, with representation from all political and religious parties and schools of thought.
“The jirga issued a 15-point unanimous declaration, collectively opposing any new military operation. Yet attempts are now being made to sabotage the agreed-upon peace agenda,” he lamented.
The chief minister also criticized the regime change that ended Imran Khan’s elected democratic government. “False and orchestrated narratives were used against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. However, the party successfully countered these narratives and will continue to do so in the future,” he added.
Sohail Afridi said that preparations for a street movement are underway under the guidance of party founding chairman Imran Khan. “It will be taken forward to a decisive phase with full strength and momentum,” he vowed.
He clarified that Imran Khan has delegated all powers related to either negotiations or resistance to the leadership of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aine Pakistan. “The PTI will stand with the leadership in whatever decision is taken,” he said, adding that no government representative has contacted him for negotiations or any other matter so far.
Addressing issues related to tribal communities, the chief minister emphasized that these areas are not experimental grounds. “They are home to real people. Those who have kept the tribal population deprived for 78 years still wish to do so, but their ambitions will not succeed,” he said.
Sohail Afridi recalled that during the merger of the former FATA, a promise was made to allocate Rs100 billion annually for 10 years, which has not yet been fulfilled. “A lack of federal funds has affected ongoing development projects in the merged districts,” he complained.
He added that there will be no compromise on the rights of merged districts, stating that the provincial government is working on a comprehensive development package worth Rs100 billion for these areas.
Later, the chief minister visited the home of a young patient, Zainab, in Jamrud. He met her and other children, saying that he had promised to visit her at home and had fulfilled that promise.
