• Afridi says gathering to be held in his hometown to take local elders on board; vows to ‘veto’ unilateral decisions
• KP Assembly to convene today after CM meets speaker to discuss ‘political situation’

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday announced a jirga, to be held in his hometown of Bara in the Khyber district, on Saturday (Oct 25) to establish enduring peace in the restive province and resist decisions made without the input of residents.

In a tweet, the newly elected CM reiterated that no one would be allowed to impose decisions made behind ‘closed doors’. The CM said that the KP residents would decide their future and warned of vetoing any unilateral decisions regarding the restive province. “People of KP will decide about their lives and future,” CM Afridi said in a tweet.

The PTI has consistently opposed plans to conduct anti-terrorism operations across the province, with its incarcerated founder Imran Khan in August telling then-CM Ali Amin Gandapur not to allow the Centre to conduct any military operations. Mr Khan had made a similar demand last month and apparently CM Afridi replaced Mr Gandapur for the same reason. In his maiden speech last week, the CM had said a military offensive was not a solution to militancy.

Against this backdrop, CM Afridi said the provincial government stood by the ideology of Imran Khan and the interests of the KP residents. He said a peace jirga would be held in Bara on Saturday, which would be attended by local elders from Khyber.

When contacted, former cabinet member Mena Khan Afridi said the CM had made it clear that decisions made behind closed doors would not be implemented anymore and that was the reason he wanted to seek public opinion through a jirga.

“Mostly, these are the tribesmen belonging to the merged districts, who have been facing the challenge (of militancy) more than those living in settled districts. He (the CM) himself is a tribesman and wants to put this case before the tribesman,” the lawmaker said. Mr Mena Khan Afridi said that people from Khyber would participate in the jirga, but anyone from any other merged district can participate.

In the past, similar jirgas had been convened by ex-CM Gandapur, who held consultative meetings with public representatives and elders from all merged districts, wherein the participants suggested engaging with the interim Afghan government and holding talks for regional stability.

A similar gathering was organised by PTI’s student and youth wing on September 12, where participants, from across the province, had demanded negotiations with the interim Afghan government for regional peace, involving tribal elders. The participants had called for the immediate withdrawal of all the cases filed against those who raised their voices against terrorism.

“We have made several demands in the declaration. Some issues fall within the domain of the federal government, while some are related to the provincial government. Whoever does it, we want our issues resolved,” Insaf Youth Wing’s regional president Sajjad Mohmand said.

KP Assembly session

Meanwhile, KP Speaker Babar Saleem Swati issued a notification for the assembly session at 2pm today instead of on October 25. A statement issued from Mr Swati’s office read that the decision was taken following a meeting between Mr Afridi and Mr Swati held at the speaker’s house.

“The meeting involved a detailed discussion on the current political situation and parliamentary matters of the province. The chief minister proposed convening an assembly session, and the speaker, after consultation, agreed to summon the session,” the statement read.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2025