Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has reiterated his opposition to any military operation in the province, saying his government wants political disputes to be resolved through dialogue. He has also rejected the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency, warning that such measures would face public opposition.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Afridi said political parties believed in negotiations and that he had wanted the outstanding issues to be settled through talks. He also called for a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and arrangements for his medical treatment.
Afridi maintained that peaceful protest was a constitutional right and said political pressure or threats would not change his position. He added that any attempt to impose governor’s rule would provoke a response from the public rather than mer00ely from the PTI or the provincial chief minister.The chief minister also questioned the legality of a meeting convened by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, describing the move as unconstitutional. His objection comes amid tensions between the provincial government and the governor over security and governance in the province.
On counterterrorism policy, Afridi said he would not agree to a military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if it were proposed during negotiations. The disagreement comes as the PTI’s long march continues and talks between the federal government and opposition have failed to resolve key differences, particularly over counterterrorism measures.
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