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KP cabinet full of ‘smugglers,’ says Ziaullah Afridi
PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for mines and mineral development, Ziaullah Afridi, who was arrested in July by the provincial anti-corruption body, made an appearance in the provincial assembly on Thursday, where he alleged that the KP cabinet was full of “smugglers who were not being apprehended.”
Speaker Asad Qaisar had issued a production order for the detained former minister so he could attend the assembly sittings on Thursday and Friday.
In his speech on the assembly's floor, the ex-provincial minister from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) alleged that KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was “responsible for the failure of PTI's Islamabad sit-in last year.”
He said that the chief minister had restricted him from inviting people to the capital during last year's sit-in, adding that the provincial police chief was a “fake person,” who “only talks but does not take action”.
Afridi criticised CM Pervez Khattak for “framing false charges” against him and slammed the Inspector General of Police Nasir Durrani, asking stern questions regarding the Army Public School attack in his address.
“714 lawsuits have been filed in mineral cases in Nowshera, but none of them have been addressed by the police chief.”
He called for authorities to investigate the Army Public School massacre that took place on December 16, 2014, and determine “exactly” how the insurgents had reached the school.
Earlier, members of the assembly welcomed Ziaullah Afridi with desk thumping, while hundreds of supporters were present outside the legislature.
Several lawmakers of the treasury and opposition had held meetings with the detained minister and sought commitments. Sources had earlier said the production order for Afridi had been issued on the condition that he would not speak against the chief minister on the assembly floor.
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The good thing about these corrupt leaders is that when they are caught they open up the truth about the other corrupt politicians and more could be brought to books.
Why did you speak after your arrest. Shame on you. You are looking everyone through your eyes. Enough is enough.
It has to be full of smugglers because that is the main business of Peshawar, and the cabinet officers want their fees. When it comes down to opium and heroin smuggling that causes severe pain to the nation and increases violent crime. Heroin addicts selling the product do not value human life. They destroy lives and kill to protect their money. Peshawar needs to be locked down and drug smuggling controlled.
Credit to PTI for starting accountability from within the party. There is no precedence in pakistan history where sitting minister was arrested for corruption charges, ministership was stripped off and later produced in assembly to speak his mind. This is true democracy that we see in western world including US and UK. Congratulations PTI for being fair and honest.
A case of pot calling the kettle black! It was revealed that 5 ministers of KP cabinet attended a private party in the late hours during the height of the dharna when ordinary activists were bearing the brunt of teargas and lathis. One of them was Mr. Zia Ullah Afridi. The 5 were in a state of stupor after the party and the lift carrying them down from a private suite broke down and collapsed causing severe injury to one of them
So he was proud and honoured to work for Khattac and PTI but now all of a sudden they are corrupt full of criminals? Which may or may not be true but it says a lot more about his character. An opportunist?
This speech of Ziaullah Afridi is a certificate for his disqualification as a Minister.
As if other provinces ministers are angels.
While it seems that he is angry because of charges on him, however, what's wrong to listen to him since people speak truth also when they are angry at each other.
One should utilise his emotion to know many facts as who knows that cm Khattak might be involved in many thing. Mr Afridi is also right to blame police chief for attack on school children to some extent.
Good thing - Catch them all including him.
He is accusing others for wrong doing--we do not want empty rhetoric please substantiate it with evidence, if there is none then simply shut up.
One thing he pointed is extremly important, how the terrorists reached APS, none of the police or army officer was detained.
PTI is not clean after all.
I do not know who is this guy Afridi. But what he is saying is 200% true.
I love it when corrupt people try and belittle others when they are exposed. It only shows how little and lowly they truly are.
Sour grapes.
So let me sum up in Sindh province ministers are looting through land, in Punjab they looting through power sector (Nandipur),now KPK all are smugglers. Mashallha what a competition.
Since when KPK was n't smuggler's den? It was always an open border, between Pakistan and Afghanistan , no clear line of demarcation, I traveled through it in 1969 at Torkham border, was surprised to see a sheep herder walking through the gate without any formal check. This is a lame excuse.
how funny these PTI support now accusing him only... in case of any other party... situation will be different than that only party will be corrupt... Lies can't be hidden behind web pages... PTI think they can hidden truth by screaming lies... this is right time to clean up other.. there will be no different btw pti, ppp, pml-n or Mqm
All corrupted leaders should be handed over to public.
Well, the last para in the article says quite a bit. He was produced in the assembly on the condition that he wont speak against the CM. Anything that the PTI would like to add on this ?????
@Ocean Apart NAB is not under KPK CM but works under federal government .
@Ocean Apart so its great that they nominated a corrupt minister, as long as they caught him. what does it say about their whetting process. And how many are not caught?
To eliminate corruption from Pakistan, NAB & Raners should arresting big fishes, they will expose corruption of others.
@max Your point will hold water if PTI had come out in support of the corrupt politician. But you can see in this case that he is feeling under pressure from his own party that's why he is talking ill against his own party. If PPP minister is held PPP comes out in his support and start hurling abuses at PML(N) and same for PML (N). But this is different in the sense that PTI or the system implemented by the PTI govt has flushed him out so it is obvious that he will talk against PTI. And also read, when he was produced in the assembly, he was greeted with desk thumping by the MPAs - of course the opposition MPAs so it is no surprise y he is spewing venom against PTI