BARA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Friday reiterated his opposition to the use of force and advocated dialogue as the only viable path to lasting peace.
“We were against operations in the past, we are against them today, and we will not be part of this failed policy in the future either. Permanent and sustainable peace can only be achieved through a consensus-based policy formulated with the consultation of all stakeholders,” he said.
The chief minister visited Tirah Valley to meet the affectees of recent operations, where he listened to their grievances and issued directives for their immediate resolution. He was accompanied by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, and provincial lawmakers.
Member of the Provincial Assembly Abdul Ghani Afridi briefed the chief minister on the issues being faced by the local population. Addressing the affected residents, Sohail Afridi said that what the people of Tirah were facing was “unacceptable,” adding that decisions were still being made behind closed doors despite repeated failures.
To provide immediate relief, he ordered all relevant departments to take emergency measures and cautioned the administration that stopping people at multiple checkpoints and subjecting them to humiliation in queues would not be tolerated. He directed the establishment of additional NADRA offices on an emergency basis to expedite the registration process.
