Muhammad Amanullah
Date: September 29, 2026 The True Post (Web News) —Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken a firm stance against threats of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in the province, saying that pressure will not force him to abandon his political ideology or position.
Afridi said he would reject any position that required him to compromise his principles, adding that no action contrary to the wishes and public mandate of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be acceptable.
Threats Will Not Change My Position
Addressing a meeting on law and order, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said threats of governor’s rule or an emergency would not force him to withdraw his position.
He maintained that power and public office had little significance if retaining them required him to abandon his ideology or principles.
Afridi stressed that the political mandate under which the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elected their government must be respected. He said any action taken against that public mandate would be unacceptable.
Ideology More Important Than Office
Afridi said he attached no importance to the chief minister’s position if holding office meant being forced to abandon his political beliefs.
According to him, public office is temporary, while ideology and principles remain lasting commitments.
During his address, the chief minister emphasised that he would not change his fundamental position because of political pressure, threats or concerns about retaining his position.
Rs35 Billion Allocated for Peace and Security
The chief minister said the provincial government had reduced its development budget by Rs35 billion and allocated the amount to the police to improve law and order.
He said maintaining peace and security was a top priority for the provincial administration. Resources were being provided to the police and other relevant institutions to enable effective action against terrorism and unrest.
Afridi presented the allocation as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen security arrangements across the province.
Increased Resources for Police
Afridi said providing the police with the necessary resources and facilities was the provincial government’s responsibility, adding that the government would not step back from this obligation.
He said improving the law-and-order situation required strengthening police capacity, supplying essential equipment and improving coordination among security institutions.
According to the chief minister, these measures were necessary to support efforts against terrorism and improve public safety.
Objections to Federal Policy
Afridi argued that the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be treated as a national issue rather than a problem confined to one province.
He said policies developed without taking provincial stakeholders into confidence could not be effective.
The chief minister noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had faced terrorism for several years, during which residents, police personnel and security forces had made significant sacrifices.
He maintained that any strategy that ignored conditions on the ground in the province would struggle to achieve its objectives.
Criticism of Those Claiming to Know Everything
Afridi criticised certain groups, saying some people considered themselves the ultimate authority on every issue and were unwilling to listen to stakeholders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He argued that establishing peace required listening to the views of provincial political leaders, the administration, police and other relevant institutions.
According to Afridi, decisions should be based on ground realities and informed by consultations with those directly involved in addressing the province’s security challenges.
Joint Strategy Needed to Establish Peace
The chief minister said a coordinated strategy involving all relevant institutions was necessary to achieve lasting peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He maintained that the problem could not be resolved through the actions of a single institution or government alone. Instead, all relevant organisations needed to cooperate and coordinate their efforts.
Afridi also stressed that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be left alone in the fight against terrorism and that the province’s concerns had to be taken seriously.
Respect for the Public Mandate
Afridi said his government had been formed through the votes of the people and that their mandate must be respected under all circumstances.
He argued that the views of the province’s residents and the mandate of the elected government should be considered before any extraordinary constitutional or political measures were taken.
The chief minister reiterated that he would not accept pressure on issues involving peace, provincial rights or his political position.
Political Tensions Become More Visible
The chief minister’s remarks have further highlighted the ongoing political tensions between the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration.
While the provincial government says it will maintain its position on law and order, discussions surrounding possible constitutional measures, including governor’s rule and an emergency, remain part of the political debate.
Afridi’s statement indicates that the provincial government intends to express its position more openly rather than retreat under pressure.
He maintains that preserving his office will not come at the expense of his ideology and that any action contrary to the public mandate of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not be acceptable.
