PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, stated that the street movement is continuing across Pakistan and that the people of Swat have today clearly expressed their political will.
Addressing participants of the street movement rally in Mingora, he said that the mandate of the people belongs to Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi and that the Chief Minister derives legitimacy from that mandate.
The Chief Minister said that multiple tactics were employed to prevent his appointment as Chief Minister, including the construction of various narratives portraying him as associated with smugglers and militants.
He stated that after attempts such as Governor’s Rule and regime change failed, efforts are now underway to undermine public confidence in Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.
He rejected claims that his party is hostile to the military or state institutions, stating that while they respect institutions completely, they do not accept decisions made behind closed doors without public mandate. He emphasized that attempts to damage the party’s image would not succeed. Reacting to a recent federal government notification regarding displaced persons from Tirah, the Chief Minister described the claim that the displacement was voluntary as misleading and factually incorrect.
He warned that if the notification is not withdrawn and an apology is not issued, he will convene a Jirga of the Afridi tribe. He further stated that if the claim is proven false, he will personally facilitate the return of displaced families to Tirah. He said that federal governments claim that the displacement of families in Tirah Valley is voluntary, is actually aimed at creating confrontation between the provincial government and state institutions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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