KOHAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi on Sunday delivered a fiery address at a public rally in Kohat, signalling a renewed phase of political confrontation with the federal government and hinting at a march towards Islamabad.
Speaking to supporters, Afridi said his party was prepared to take its struggle to D-Chowk, declaring that participants would either achieve what he described as “real freedom” or make the ultimate sacrifice. He alleged systematic efforts to suppress the party’s leadership and undermine the public mandate.
He claimed that party leaders were being prevented from meeting judges, while those tasked with safeguarding democracy had instead violated it. “Those meant to protect us have become our persecutors,” the chief minister said.
Afridi also accused certain media figures of issuing threats on television and said former prime minister Imran Khan had assigned Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas the responsibility of deciding between negotiations and street protests. He urged party workers to remain on standby for any call to action.
The chief minister levelled serious allegations of corruption against the federal government, claiming losses worth Rs5,300 billion and stating that national debt had surged to Rs80,000 billion. He said those lecturing on governance had plunged the country into a deep financial crisis.
Turning his criticism towards Punjab, Afridi accused the provincial leadership of stealing the public mandate and claimed the Punjab Police had become the most corrupt institution in Pakistan. He further stated that investment was rising in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while declining in Punjab.
