SWAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has criticized what he described as decision-making behind closed doors, saying such policies are being tested in the province and urging policymakers to reconsider their approach.
Addressing a ceremony in Swat, the chief minister said the current policies are creating disappointment among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Those making decisions behind closed doors are conducting experiments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Afridi said. “They should review their policies.”
He further stated that the province would now follow the political vision of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“People in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are becoming disillusioned because of these policies. From now on, Imran Khan’s policy will prevail in the province,” he said.
KP Information Minister Comments on Fazlur Rehman’s Remarks
Separately, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan commented on the recent controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding martyrs.
He said that martyrs belong to the entire nation and expressed the view that such a statement should not have been made.
“At the same time, Maulana Fazlur Rehman should not be declared a traitor on the basis of a single statement,” Shafi Jan said.
He argued that the remarks had been presented out of context and urged political leaders and the public to move beyond the controversy.
“We should now put this issue behind us and also reflect on how the situation reached this point,” he added.
Security Challenges
The provincial information minister said that terrorism remains the government’s biggest challenge.
He also criticized the security situation in Balochistan, claiming that a large portion of the province has effectively become inaccessible because of security concerns.
“About 80 percent of Balochistan has become a no-go area,” he said, adding that the provincial government there is led by another political party rather than PTI.
Shafi Jan questioned why, in his view, there was no clear policy to address the situation in Balochistan.
Afghanistan Policy
The minister also criticized Pakistan’s policy toward Afghanistan, alleging inconsistency in the government’s approach.
He claimed that trade continues with India, while the border with Afghanistan remains closed.
According to Shafi Jan, the government should adopt a more consistent regional policy.
Remarks on Imran Khan
Referring to PTI founder Imran Khan, Shafi Jan said that August 5 would mark three years since his arrest, describing it as an abduction.
He further argued that prisoners have legally recognized rights and alleged that those rights are not being provided to the PTI founder.
The statements by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Information Minister Shafi Jan reflect the views of the provincial government. Other political parties and the federal government may hold different positions on the issues raised.
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