Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday pushed back against claims that his province was ignoring security responsibilities, saying the federal government should review its own policies instead of blaming KP.
Speaking at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) public gathering in Peshawar, Afridi said KP had consistently cooperated on national security and would continue to do so, but the Centre must reassess the decisions that have led to instability.
“They say KP is not serious about security matters… it is not our fault. You should change your policies,” he said. “We do not criticise for the sake of criticism. We also give solutions.”
Afridi said KP’s governance remained strong, pointing out that voters had elected his party for a third consecutive term. He contrasted this with governance at the federal level, saying the IMF had recently issued what he described as a “charge sheet” against the Centre.
“Rs5,300 billion is taxpayers’ money, not anyone’s personal wealth,” he said. “The elite mafia and those who control the country have stolen these funds. We will not let them take it.”
PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser also addressed the gathering, saying the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments had weakened judicial independence by making courts “subservient”. He said the people would resist such measures.
Qaiser also pointed to rising tensions on the western border, saying Afghanistan-related issues reflected weaknesses in the federal government’s border management policies. He urged Islamabad to “give peace a chance”.
Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in terrorism since the Afghan Taliban took control of Kabul. KP police data shows the province recorded more than 600 attacks in the first eight months of 2025, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 79 police officials and the deaths of 138 civilians.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul and the international community to address safe havens for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Afghanistan.
The federal government has recently hinted at imposing governor’s rule in KP, citing governance failures and the worsening security situation. State Minister for Law Aqeel Malik said last month that the option was under review due to “cross-border terrorism and administrative issues”.
The remarks angered Chief Minister Afridi, who challenged the Centre to go ahead if it felt necessary.
“We do not need any other rule in this province,” Afridi said in a recent interview. He warned the federal government that “closed-door decisions” about KP would have consequences.
