• Says federal govt should realise province’s sacrifices, release funds on time
• Talal Chaudhry hits back, claims KP leadership ‘undermining counter-terrorism efforts’

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday blamed the “flawed policy” of the federal government for the resurgence of terrorism being witnessed in the province.

Mr Afridi, who was chairing a first official meeting after assuming the charge of the chief minister, reviewed the progress on the provincial government’s good governance roadmap, law and order situation and anti-corruption measures, according to an official statement.

“Terrorism has returned to the province due to the federal government’s wrong policy,” a post shared on his office’s X account, outlining the details of the meeting, quoted him as saying.

He further claimed that the federal government was neither giving KP funds allocated under the country’s ongoing war against terrorism, nor “other constitutional rights”.

“The Centre should realise our sacrifices and release our funds on time. We can only strengthen our police and combat terrorism once we get our funds,” the chief minister said, lauding the KP police’s “unparalleled sacrifices” to eradicate terrorism.

“The bulletproof cars provided by the interior minister [Mohsin Naqvi] are defective and old. This is a mockery of [the] KP police. These vehicles should be recalled,” Mr Afridi said.

Affirming that law and order were the provincial government’s top priority, he vowed there would be no compromise on it.

“The police would not face a shortage of funds. All required resources will be provided on a priority basis. The police will be equipped with modern equipment and arms.”

CM Afridi also vowed that “no political individual” will be detained in KP under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, which gives authorities the power to arrest and detain suspected individuals to prevent “any person from acting in any manner prejudicial to public safety” or to maintain public order.

“Freedom of expression and constructive criticism is a fundamental constitutional right of everyone,” Mr Afridi was quoted as saying in the post.

He further said that no one will be arrested under a “political” FIR.

“These FIRs were registered due to political vendetta. The province has its own specific political culture; we will not let it be ruined. The [KP] police will never subject anyone to political vendettas. No FIR should be registered against any student,” said Mr Afridi. He added that torture in prisons would not be tolerated.

Mr Afridi maintained that an attempt was made to “undermine” the public mandate in KP on Feb 8 last year, but he paid tribute to the provincial bureaucracy and police for “protecting the people’s vote despite facing pressure”, according to the statement.

However, he regretted that some officials had failed to withstand pressure and did not protect the public mandate. He directed the chief secretary to identify and take strict action against such individuals.

Responding to the KP chief minister later in the day, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry strongly criticised the provincial government’s decision to return bullet-proof vehicles supplied by the federal government, calling the move “immature” and a setback in the fight against terrorism, APP reported.

Mr Chaudhry accused the KP leadership of “undermining counter-terrorism efforts” and placing police personnel at heightened risk.

“The federal government has so far provided KP with Rs600 billion for the war against terrorism,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“That money was allocated to strengthen the civil armed forces, the Counter Terrorism Department and forensic laboratory capabilities. Yet no clear account has been given of how that Rs600 billion was spent.”

The state minister rejected the provincial government’s stated reason — alleged defects or substandard quality — for returning the vehicles.

“Vehicles were provided for security, but they were returned on the pretext of quality,” he said, calling that explanation “a childish and immature position”.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2025