PTI's Sohail Afridi elected new KP CM with 90 votes [Update@ Post#20]

[Ball Blazer]

Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said on Wednesday he had stepped down on the instructions of party leader and former prime minister Imran Khan, ending weeks of speculation about a leadership change.

The news comes amid mounting criticism of the provincial government’s handling of law and order. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, governed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party since 2013, has faced a sharp resurgence of militant activity in recent months, with officials reporting record casualties among security forces.

In a statement, Gandapur said he had resigned on Khan’s direction.

“The position of chief minister was a trust given to me by Imran Khan,” he said. “On his instructions, I am returning that trust to him and submitting my resignation.”

Gandapur’s departure marks a major internal shake-up in Khan’s party, which continues to dominate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa politics despite facing crackdowns and leadership challenges since Khan’s ouster as prime minister in 2022. Khan himself has been in jail since 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges he says are politically motivated to keep him away from public office.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Gandapur had been removed by Khan, linking it to the deteriorating security situation in KP.

“It is true, Sohail Afridi will be the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in place of Ali Amin Gandapur,” Raja told reporters.

Afridi is a PTI lawmaker from Khyber district, part of Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. A longtime loyalist of Khan, Afridi was elected to the provincial assembly in 2024 and is considered part of PTI’s younger leadership circle.

He has maintained close ties with the party’s central leadership and has been an advocate for stronger provincial oversight of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces are battling a resurgence of militant activity. Afridi’s expected elevation is seen within PTI as a move to restore control and stability in the province after months of political friction.

Raja said Gandapur’s removal was linked to the worsening security situation in the province, particularly a deadly assault in Orakzai district in which 11 security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, were killed during an intelligence-based operation on Wednesday.

“Khan sahib is very sad,” Raja said. “The incident that happened in Orakzai … there is no choice for him now but to do the change.”

Gandapur, a senior PTI figure and former federal minister, had been serving as chief minister since March last year. His tenure was marked by friction with both the federal government and factions within his own party, particularly over administrative control and political appointments. He had also publicly sparred with Aleema Khan, the former premier’s sister, over party influence in the province.

Pakistan provincial chief minister resigns on Imran Khan’s orders amid surge in militancy

ISLAMABAD: Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said on Wednesday he had stepped down on the instructions of party leader and former prime minister Imran Khan, ending weeks of speculation about a leadership change. The news comes amid...

www.arabnews.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

Betrayed PK and its people. I wonder what the Junta had on him that forced him to toe line of the Munir and co. He isnt the only one- Gohar and Ali Mohammad should also leave and join the other parties so they can serve their masters. Kaptaan waited too long to make his decision.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Betrayed PK and its people. I wonder what the Junta had on him that forced him to toe line of the Munir and co. He isnt the only one- Gohar and Ali Mohammad should also leave and join the other parties so they can serve their masters. Kaptaan waited too long to make his decision.

They are many more there too. Until IK is out, very difficult for his party to mobilize on a large scale.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said on Wednesday he had stepped down on the instructions of party leader and former prime minister Imran Khan, ending weeks of speculation about a leadership change.

The news comes amid mounting criticism of the provincial government’s handling of law and order. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, governed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party since 2013, has faced a sharp resurgence of militant activity in recent months, with officials reporting record casualties among security forces.

In a statement, Gandapur said he had resigned on Khan’s direction.

“The position of chief minister was a trust given to me by Imran Khan,” he said. “On his instructions, I am returning that trust to him and submitting my resignation.”

Gandapur’s departure marks a major internal shake-up in Khan’s party, which continues to dominate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa politics despite facing crackdowns and leadership challenges since Khan’s ouster as prime minister in 2022. Khan himself has been in jail since 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges he says are politically motivated to keep him away from public office.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Gandapur had been removed by Khan, linking it to the deteriorating security situation in KP.

“It is true, Sohail Afridi will be the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in place of Ali Amin Gandapur,” Raja told reporters.

Afridi is a PTI lawmaker from Khyber district, part of Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt bordering Afghanistan. A longtime loyalist of Khan, Afridi was elected to the provincial assembly in 2024 and is considered part of PTI’s younger leadership circle.

He has maintained close ties with the party’s central leadership and has been an advocate for stronger provincial oversight of law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where security forces are battling a resurgence of militant activity. Afridi’s expected elevation is seen within PTI as a move to restore control and stability in the province after months of political friction.

Raja said Gandapur’s removal was linked to the worsening security situation in the province, particularly a deadly assault in Orakzai district in which 11 security personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a major, were killed during an intelligence-based operation on Wednesday.

“Khan sahib is very sad,” Raja said. “The incident that happened in Orakzai … there is no choice for him now but to do the change.”

Gandapur, a senior PTI figure and former federal minister, had been serving as chief minister since March last year. His tenure was marked by friction with both the federal government and factions within his own party, particularly over administrative control and political appointments. He had also publicly sparred with Aleema Khan, the former premier’s sister, over party influence in the province.

Pakistan provincial chief minister resigns on Imran Khan’s orders amid surge in militancy

ISLAMABAD: Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said on Wednesday he had stepped down on the instructions of party leader and former prime minister Imran Khan, ending weeks of speculation about a leadership change. The news comes amid...

www.arabnews.pk

https://twitter.com/x/status/1975982272189693982

 

[Bewal Express]

They are many more there too. Until IK is out, very difficult for his party to mobilize on a large scale.

IA they are all exposed. The Junta have their tentacles deeply embedded a criminal system they have created to serve them.

 

[Bewal Express]

Atta Tarrar is angry that Gandapur will be replaced and attacked IK for sacking him and the governor has so far not accepted the resignation.

 

[mazkhan]

He sacked him because gandapur wants an operation on the ttp and knows the military has to do one to secure the province from afghani ethnofascism .

And now this afridi guy is a tribal ethnofascist and ttp sympathiser who does not want an operation .

Military need to declare this pti the political wing of the taliban and a terrorist organisation .

 

[BouncerGuy]

Good riddance... Gandapur was going in the opposite direction than what IK wanted.. I think he was trying to make front group type think...this is my opinion

 

[BouncerGuy]

Gandapur’s resignation ‘lost in red tape’

Despite Imran Khan’s instructions, Ali Amin Gandapur technically remains the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until his resignation is accepted by the provincial governor.

His resignation letter, which was shared with the media the previous night, has apparently gotten lost in red tape, with Governor House denying having ever received it.

Officials at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat told Dawn that Mr Gandapur’s resignation had been delivered to the Governor House on Wednesday night. A copy of the letter seen by Dawn showed that it was received by the governor’s staff at 10:57pm.

However, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who was in Islamabad on Thursday, and other officials at the Governor’s Secretariat remained tight-lipped about the issue.

An official on Mr Kundi’s staff told Dawn that they had yet to receive the resignation letter. “As far as I know, the resignation has not yet reached the Governor’s Office,” the official said, adding that the governor would sign it whenever he received it.

He further said that Governor Kundi was due to return to the provincial capital on Friday (today).

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Mr Kundi said he had not yet received the chief minister’s resignation and would sign it as soon as it was received. He described reports regarding the receipt of the resignation letter at the Governor House as “fake news.”

Meanwhile, in his first media interaction after ‘stepping down’, Mr Gandapur asserted that the federal government could not topple the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Commenting on the delay in the acceptance of his resignation, he termed it a “drama” and advised the government not to waste time, warning that such a delay would harm the province.

When asked if he had been re-offered the chief ministership, he denied receiving any such offer, saying that even if such an offer were made, he would not accept it.

‘PTI enables terrorists’

Meanwhile, at a press conference in Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the PTI of “enabling terrorists”.

In his view, the problem that led to Mr Gandapur’s ouster was that he did not do as he was told i.e., “enable and support terrorists and prevent actions against them”.

He alleged that CM-in-waiting Sohail Afridi was nominated to “support, promote, and enable” terrorism in the province.

“These [people] are enabled by a person sitting in jail,” the information minister said, calling Imran Khan the “chief sponsor of terrorism”.

DAWN NEWS

 

[Pakpak]

He sacked him because gandapur wants an operation on the ttp and knows the military has to do one to secure the province from afghani ethnofascism .

And now this afridi guy is a tribal ethnofascist and ttp sympathiser who does not want an operation .

Military need to declare this pti the political wing of the taliban and a terrorist organisation .

I remember Khan asking the TTP for an agreement to not strike KPK.

Oh wait

It was your PMLN asking this to TTP back in the day

 

[IAJ]

Atta Tarrar is angry that Gandapur will be replaced and attacked IK for sacking him and the governor has so far not accepted the resignation.

That Abraham Lincon lookalike? Never liked him, he has spread a lot of lies and propganda against IK's personal life also.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Imran Khan's post on X regarding the aforementioned developments:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1976608912607531185

 

[Bewal Express]

Imran Khan's post on X regarding the aforementioned developments:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1976608912607531185

Munir needs dollars and Trump wants the base in Afghanistan. Munir wants to create an atmosphere where PK and Afghanistan go to war and he can keep Trump on his side by meeting his promise of the base. The Afghans must also not inflame a tense situation by supporting the TTP leading to even more deaths.
Neither the PK people or the Afghanis want war. We are brotherly people with a shared religion.

 

[Boyka]

Imran Khan's post on X regarding the aforementioned developments:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1976608912607531185

“Confronting terrorism through empty displays of force rather than a comprehensive political strategy”.

The difference between Imran Khan and the rest of the establishment.

 

[Major]

The army should take over kpk. The idiots party has further destabilized the whole place causing more terrorist attacks.

Imran wanted to make friendship with these idiots and now look....

 

[HalBass9]

He sacked him because gandapur wants an operation on the ttp and knows the military has to do one to secure the province from afghani ethnofascism .

And now this afridi guy is a tribal ethnofascist and ttp sympathiser who does not want an operation .

Military need to declare this pti the political wing of the taliban and a terrorist organisation .

First you have to decide, is Khan yahoodi sazish or Khawarji?

 

[mazkhan]

First you have to decide, is Khan yahoodi sazish or Khawarji?

Both

 

[mazkhan]

All these groups starting with t are foreign funded anarchists

Amazing this tlp are protesting when the arabis and hamas are signing ceasefire deals and hugging israeli representives with trump sitting there

And you are calling munir and pmln zionist agents

 

[Bewal Express]

All these groups starting with t are foreign funded anarchists

Amazing this tlp are protesting when the arabis and hamas are signing ceasefire deals and hugging israeli representives with trump sitting there

And you are calling munir and pmln zionist agents

Are you saying they arent. The Palestinians have been beaten and killed in their 1000s and we have being doing deals with their oppressors. They didnt have a choice, we did. Why do you think IK is in prison and none of these people have raised an eye brow but Munir is allowed to become a waiter for them.
Yes, yes and yes all do long to your question

 

[IAJ]

Contratulation, Sohail Afridi. What a wonderful day for Pakistan, an ordinary young man selected as Wazir-e-ala

--------------------

PTI's Sohail Afridi elected new KP CM with 90 votes

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Sohail Afridi has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, securing 90 votes.

The session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly began under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

It may be noted that resignation of former KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur was rejected by Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi.

When former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur arrived in the assembly, government members stood up to welcome him.

“We want the rule of law in the country,” said Ali Amin Gandapur while addressing the assembly. He congratulated Sohail Afridi in advance and stated that a government only succeeds when it is strong.

Gandapur said that when his government took charge, only fifteen days’ worth of salaries were available. “The opposition may complain about not receiving development funds, but I allocated funds to your constituencies,” he added. He also recalled that the founder of PTI has always said he puts Pakistan before himself.

He further stated that wherever Muslims are oppressed in the world, PTI stands with them. “Our struggle for the people of Pakistan and this province will continue. Perhaps Allah placed me here to vindicate me. When one proves loyalty and honor, one earns a respected place in the world,” he remarked.

Concluding his speech, Gandapur said the founder of PTI is making sacrifices for the nation. “We stand firmly with our founder and will continue to do so. He is fighting for the future of our children,” he affirmed.



Opposition walks out

The oposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly walked out soon after session started on Monday to elect new chief minister after former leader of the house Ali Amin Gandapur resigned.

The session was due to start early morning with voting scheduled at 10:00 am through “show of hands.”

Four candidates were in the run, including PTI’s Sohail Afridi who was nominated by the party chief, Imran Khan. The nomination papers of all candidates have been approved. Other contenders included Maulana Lutfur Rehman from JUI, Arbab Zark from the PPP, and Sardar Shah Jehan from the PML-N.

Opposition Leader Dr Ibad Ullah was out of the race, as opposition parties failed to agree on a single candidate.

Meanwhile, PTI has become active in an effort to have its candidate elected “unopposed, and has reached out to the PML-N and the ANP for support.

A PTI delegation held meetings with Federal Minister Amir Muqam and ANP leaders. Both parties said they would consult with their central leadership before making any commitments.

The total number of members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is 145; and 73 votes are required to elect chief minister. The number of independents supported by the PTI is 92, while opposition members number 53.

Sohail Afridi’s speech

After being elected as CM, Sohail Afridi said that if his leader Imran Khan opposes military operations, then he too stands completely against them. “Military operations are not the solution to terrorism; the world is moving toward negotiations,” he said.

Addressing the assembly, he expressed gratitude to his leader — Pakistan’s most popular leader — and said he came from a humble, middle-class background with no family members in politics. He noted that his name does not carry the weight of a Zardari or Bhutto; he reached this position through his own efforts.

He thanked his leader for the opportunity and reminded the house that he is from the tribal areas and considers himself first and foremost a Pakistani.

Afridi criticized a mindset that keeps tribal people behind, saying that for 78 years this mindset has governed them. He praised his chairman for recognising the historic marginalization of the tribes and for giving opportunities to those who work hard rather than to those who merely carry famous names.

He also thanked social media and the media representatives who, he said, risked their jobs in pursuit of truth. He paid tribute to the late Arshad Sharif for sacrificing his life for the cause of truth.

He lauded Ali Amin Gandapur for resigning in unison with the party leader and for the way he announced it in the assembly. Afridi dismissed critics who belittle tribal people, saying their own affairs are in disrepair.

He declared his devotion to the chairman: “I am your admirer; people do politics, but I am in love with you.”

Promising to act for the chairman’s cause, Afridi said KP belongs to the chairman and vowed to begin steps immediately to secure his release. He pledged to work for the chairman’s wife — who is not involved in politics — and promised to take actions that had not previously been taken to win the chairman’s freedom.

“I am a champion of protest politics for the chairman because I have nothing to lose — no cars, nothing else. I will use this chair to kick for my leader,” he said.

Afridi warned that if the chairman is moved from his jail without his family’s consent, he would paralyze all of Pakistan. He claimed his leader sought peace and democracy, but his government was toppled over the refusal to recognise Israel.

PTI's Sohail Afridi elected new KP CM with 90 votes

PTI’s Sohail Afridi elected new KP CM with 90 votes

dunyanews.tv

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The army should take over kpk. The idiots party has further destabilized the whole place causing more terrorist attacks.

Imran wanted to make friendship with these idiots and now look....

Why should the army take over KPK when there is supposedly a representative govt which can legislate there? If PTI are not suitable in your eyes, then you should be suggesting one of the favoured political parties like PMNL or PPP to take over.

 

[Bewal Express]

All these groups starting with t are foreign funded anarchists

Amazing this tlp are protesting when the arabis and hamas are signing ceasefire deals and hugging israeli representives with trump sitting there

And you are calling munir and pmln zionist agents

Who funds Munir? Don't tell me Trump and the IMF and in return what has he agreed to besides recognising Israel and fighting a war to get Baghram Air base back for the Americans.

 

[Bewal Express]

The army should take over kpk. The idiots party has further destabilized the whole place causing more terrorist attacks.

Imran wanted to make friendship with these idiots and now look....

Bajwa is accusing Munir and Co for bringing back the TTP. Oh dear. The plan was to bring back the TTP and let them lose, then accuse the PTI of not being able to handle the province. You do seem very simple and you always fall for the Generals. Then we had an elections and the voters saw through your crap and gave the PTI a 2/3,rd majority just like in the whole of PK.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Why should the army take over KPK when there is supposedly a representative govt which can legislate there? If PTI are not suitable in your eyes, then you should be suggesting one of the favoured political parties like PMNL or PPP to take over.

@Major seems to be a very confused individual when it comes to politics.

Supports PPP because of their “Ideology” and their “foreign policy”.

Says he “voted for PTI” on election day (just like @Mamoon btw).

Backs the military to take control of a province instead of suggesting re-election.

Was doing bhangra when PTI were marching towards Jinnah house.

 

[Bewal Express]

@Major seems to be a very confused individual when it comes to politics.

Supports PPP because of their “Ideology” and their “foreign policy”.

Says he “voted for PTI” on election day (just like @Mamoon btw).

Backs the military to take control of a province instead of suggesting re-election.

Was doing bhangra when PTI were marching towards Jinnah house.

The word you are looking for is a hypocrite. When a man stands for nothing, he will fall for anything.

 

[mazkhan]

Who funds Munir? Don't tell me Trump and the IMF and in return what has he agreed to besides recognising Israel and fighting a war to get Baghram Air base back for the Americans.

Do you agree with ttp demands they have given the demands to the local members in tirah valley


Do you agree with them

Will you be sending the women of your household to live there ?

Will you be happy for female education to be banned, non existence of female medical care, polio conspiracy theories and marrying off girls as tribal settlement or to fighters and afghani custom of molesting young boys please tell us if you agree with these demands .

And then come with a straight face and try to blame the pakistani state .


EXCLUSIVE: In Tirah Valley, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has tabled two major demands before the jirga
- Unrestricted freedom to operate across the tribal belt as before the FATA merger.
- Formal recognition and enforcement of Sharia law, as per the group’s interpretation.

According to locals, these demands were conveyed to mediators during ongoing negotiations.
Earlier, an 80-member grand jirga comprising elders from all five tehsils of Khyber district reached Tirah to broker a peaceful withdrawal of militants from the area.
The delegation was authorised by the KP government for a 10-day dialogue with TTP local representatives, sources say.

Ladies and gentlemen these are the demands we must accept and what pti and incinerated criminal imran khan has been telling us we must accept .

We all saw how well this worked in swat where they didnt even spare their schoolgirl malala yusufzai and the anp then begged ppp zardari bilo rani and general kayani to liberate them.

 

[mazkhan]

Also pakistan has not recognised Israel

And second pakistan has not invaded afghanistan and bagram airbase is nonwhere near pakistan border but in kabul area.

So stop your lies

We hit afghanistan because they are in bed with yogi and godi and are sponsoring terrorists ttp to carry out attacks in pakistan its only because our army is in kpk and mainly tribal areas that is stopping these terrorists from.reaching rest of pakistan to restart their suicide bombing and attacks .

Many of these cross border raiders tashkeels have afghan fighters and paksitan has to repatriate their bodies back .

 

[Bewal Express]

Do you agree with ttp demands they have given the demands to the local members in tirah valley


Do you agree with them

Will you be sending the women of your household to live there ?

Will you be happy for female education to be banned, non existence of female medical care, polio conspiracy theories and marrying off girls as tribal settlement or to fighters and afghani custom of molesting young boys please tell us if you agree with these demands .

And then come with a straight face and try to blame the pakistani state .


EXCLUSIVE: In Tirah Valley, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has tabled two major demands before the jirga
- Unrestricted freedom to operate across the tribal belt as before the FATA merger.
- Formal recognition and enforcement of Sharia law, as per the group’s interpretation.

According to locals, these demands were conveyed to mediators during ongoing negotiations.
Earlier, an 80-member grand jirga comprising elders from all five tehsils of Khyber district reached Tirah to broker a peaceful withdrawal of militants from the area.
The delegation was authorised by the KP government for a 10-day dialogue with TTP local representatives, sources say.

Ladies and gentlemen these are the demands we must accept and what pti and incinerated criminal imran khan has been telling us we must accept .

We all saw how well this worked in swat where they didnt even spare their schoolgirl malala yusufzai and the anp then begged ppp zardari bilo rani and general kayani to liberate them.

The question you are avoiding is why the shameless Munir has sold PK. Why are we fighting a war against another country so America can get an Airbase? He forced the TLP to do a demo and then got many of them shot and again all linked to impressing America. Are you guys such beghairat that our lives dont matter at all.
The TTP was created by the Generals and it was they that brought them back in 2022( Bajwa said so and blamed Munir). In your desperation to damage the PTI you brought back armed guys to cause conflict ? You guys are lower than vermin.

 

[Bewal Express]

Do you agree with ttp demands they have given the demands to the local members in tirah valley


Do you agree with them

Will you be sending the women of your household to live there ?

Will you be happy for female education to be banned, non existence of female medical care, polio conspiracy theories and marrying off girls as tribal settlement or to fighters and afghani custom of molesting young boys please tell us if you agree with these demands .

And then come with a straight face and try to blame the pakistani state .


EXCLUSIVE: In Tirah Valley, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has tabled two major demands before the jirga
- Unrestricted freedom to operate across the tribal belt as before the FATA merger.
- Formal recognition and enforcement of Sharia law, as per the group’s interpretation.

According to locals, these demands were conveyed to mediators during ongoing negotiations.
Earlier, an 80-member grand jirga comprising elders from all five tehsils of Khyber district reached Tirah to broker a peaceful withdrawal of militants from the area.
The delegation was authorised by the KP government for a 10-day dialogue with TTP local representatives, sources say.

Ladies and gentlemen these are the demands we must accept and what pti and incinerated criminal imran khan has been telling us we must accept .

We all saw how well this worked in swat where they didnt even spare their schoolgirl malala yusufzai and the anp then begged ppp zardari bilo rani and general kayani to liberate them.

Munir boot polishes Trump and Trump takes credit for Murdering Palestinians. Do you have any shame at all.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977744751408320579

 

[mazkhan]

The question you are avoiding is why the shameless Munir has sold PK. Why are we fighting a war against another country so America can get an Airbase? He forced the TLP to do a demo and then got many of them shot and again all linked to impressing America. Are you guys such beghairat that our lives dont matter at all.
The TTP was created by the Generals and it was they that brought them back in 2022( Bajwa said so and blamed Munir). In your desperation to damage the PTI you brought back armed guys to cause conflict ? You guys are lower than vermin.

If usa wanted bagram they could take it within one day without anyone's permission via an aerial assault and special forces

As for palestine you still harping about that KHAMAS signed the deal and its all linked to arab countries swear at them pakistan has nothing to do with it , why is hamas executing any opposition In gaza why dont you talk about that do you think they are sole voice for Palestinians.

Why didn't your iran do anything instead of get its proxies massacred in a suicidal attempt to confront israel , why isn't iran firing on israel.

 

[mazkhan]

Munir boot polishes Trump and Trump takes credit for Murdering Palestinians. Do you have any shame at all.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1977744751408320579

Trump respects strength and in munir we have a warrior like the indians found out and shivlungi went missing with her rafale.

Contrast that to bajwa , ik , and fake peer qureshi trembling towards india

 

[mazkhan]

Ttp created by army the very army and state whose been fighting them for last 20 yrs plus and 100000 casualties

The spokesman of ttp is no other than toshakhan chor its his party who have stalled any consensus on an operation and blocked any operation threatening 1971 on whole country

 

[Bewal Express]

Trump respects strength and in munir we have a warrior like the indians found out and shivlungi went missing with her rafale.

Contrast that to bajwa , ik , and fake peer qureshi trembling towards india

No he respects losers that obey him and he found a compromised criminal that sold PK to stay in power. All those posts telling IK was pro zionist and then you get humiliated by your pay masters. The ultimately baazeti

 

[Bewal Express]

Ttp created by army the very army and state whose been fighting them for last 20 yrs plus and 100000 casualties

The spokesman of ttp is no other than toshakhan chor its his party who have stalled any consensus on an operation and blocked any operation threatening 1971 on whole country

Yes created by the army. They create them and then when they go rogue, they want credit fighting them. Its not a secret son.

 

[Bewal Express]

If usa wanted bagram they could take it within one day without anyone's permission via an aerial assault and special forces

As for palestine you still harping about that KHAMAS signed the deal and its all linked to arab countries swear at them pakistan has nothing to do with it , why is hamas executing any opposition In gaza why dont you talk about that do you think they are sole voice for Palestinians.

Why didn't your iran do anything instead of get its proxies massacred in a suicidal attempt to confront israel , why isn't iran firing on israel.

Really? So 20 years wasnt enough but they only need one more day.

This is the level of stupidity that i expect from you. Muneera has sold his soul to the Americans and the Zionists. What kind of beghairati are you defending?

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

The army should take over kpk. The idiots party has further destabilized the whole place causing more terrorist attacks.

Imran wanted to make friendship with these idiots and now look....

Liar

Imran Khan Never acted alone in matters of national Security. All Stake Holders were on board . To question Imran only is dishonesty

what happened to Millions of $ spent on fencing the Pak Afg border?

Your fav Institution presented it as ultimate solution to stop border incursions

but wait , Is that institution really sincere in creating peace? Highly unlikely

 

[Savak]

Gandapur met IK after 5 months. He went on behalf of the establishment where he presented a deal to him and advised IK that the establishment is too powerful, are in total control of Pakistan's judiciary, institutions and have the full fledged support of the international establishment and its time for IK, PTI to compromise and cut a deal.

IK proceeds to fire Gandapur and have him replaced by Sohail Afridi.

 

[mazkhan]

Gandapur met IK after 5 months. He went on behalf of the establishment where he presented a deal to him and advised IK that the establishment is too powerful, are in total control of Pakistan's judiciary, institutions and have the full fledged support of the international establishment and its time for IK, PTI to compromise and cut a deal.

IK proceeds to fire Gandapur and have him replaced by Sohail Afridi.

The sooner he's hung by the balls the better he is compromised gaddar

Its now blatant this pti is a cover for the taliban , ttp are being operated by the taliban and Afghans are amongst their ranks .

Governor rule needs to happen in kpk and balochistan and the back of this afghan menace needs to be broken .

Notice bewal never answered whether he agrees with ttp demands , ttp demands are basically the state surrendering and handing over the tribal areas to afghanistan and a base for them to threaten the rest of pakistan because one demand is their movements must not be blocked.

 

[mazkhan]

The demands are completely ludicrous it would invite a possible American repercussions, sanctions and what not

 

[Ball Blazer]

Imran Khan congratulates the people of KPK and delivers a message to Sohail Afridi from Adiala Jail:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1978403521767604352

 

[Bewal Express]

The public support for Afridi was phenomenal, support that the nationalised parties like PPP and Nooras cant imagine in their wildest dreams. He is a guy with no wealth or political family and became a CM. A total humiliation for the criminal regime and sulatkaar

 

[BouncerGuy]

PHC grants protective bail to KP CM Sohail Afridi till Nov 18

The Peshawar High Court on Thursday granted protective bail to new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi till November 18.

After a week-long constitutional and political crisis in the province over the chief minister’s election, Afridi was sworn in as the KP CM yesterday evening, with hundreds of PTI supporters present during the ceremony at the Governor House in Peshawar.

A two-member bench comprising PHC’s Senior Puisne Judge Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Naeem Anwar took up Afridi’s bail application today, with the chief minister appearing before the court in person.

During the hearing, Justice Ijaz asked whether there were any first information reports (FIR) registered against the KP chief minister.

“We do not know how many FIRs there are. It is possible that there might be an FIR against me as well,” KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel told the court.

Subsequently, the court approved CM Afridi’s bail plea, barring his arrest in any case till November 18.

According to the court order, available with Dawn.com, the bench directed that details regarding criminal cases, if any, registered against Afridi be provided at the next hearing on November 18.

Speaking to the media outside the PHC, Afridi said that the federal and “those individuals who are preventing the meeting [with Imran] should realise that a province’s chief minister is coming”.

Responding to a reporter’s query, Afridi said he has not met Imran since he was imprisoned. He also refuted a list of names for his new cabinet that has been circulating on social media as “fake”.

Asked whether the provincial cabinet will be finalised after his meeting with the PTI founder, CM Afridi replied in the affirmative. “No action will be taken without the approval of our lifelong [party] chairman sahib,” he asserted.

Shortly after the hearing, PTI lawyer Naeem Panjhuta said on social media platform X that Afridi had departed for Adiala Jail to meet party founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023 in multiple cases.

CM’s Focal Person on Digital Media Yar Muhammad Khan Niazi also shared a video on X, saying that the chief minister was on his way to Adiala Jail.

Yesterday, the KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department requested the secretary of its Punjab counterpart and the interior ministry secretary that “necessary arrangements” be made to facilitate Afridi’s meeting with Imran today, according to a letter shared by Niazi.

PHC grants protective bail to KP CM Sohail Afridi till Nov 18

Afridi says will finalise KP cabinet after meeting with Imran; PTI lawyer Naeem Panjhuta says Afridi has left to go meet PTI founder at Adiala Jail.

www.dawn.com

 

[Bewal Express]

@Mamoon
@Major
Who is the Chief executive? Shabaz Sharif told Afridi (in a telephone.call) he didn't know who stopped Afridi's meeting with IK and will.find out. What total powerless imbecile we have as PM.

 

[Major]

So the CM of KPK is calling and asking permission of PM to meet someone in jail. Yaye auqaaat hai

 

[Bewal Express]

So the CM of KPK is calling and asking permission of PM to meet someone in jail. Yaye auqaaat hai

Tell us who he should ask? Maybe the courts but the courts have no power? The judges have given permission but the Generals ignored them. So who should he ask.
I hope you dont run off but can you explain this order ignored by Generals. Don't be shy Major sahib. Who should he ask?

Weiterleitungshinweis

 

[Ball Blazer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1979072483576762571

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Tell us who he should ask? Maybe the courts but the courts have no power? The judges have given permission but the Generals ignored them. So who should he ask.
I hope you dont run off but can you explain this order ignored by Generals. Don't be shy Major sahib. Who should he ask?

Weiterleitungshinweis

First they cry about confrontational politics of PTI but ignore legitimate political requests like meeting Party founder by province Chief. They want to corner PTI to the walls and if push back happens , start crying

 

[BouncerGuy]

KP CM Afridi refuses to attend PM’s huddle on Afghan refugees

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Friday declined to attend a top-level huddle chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to chalk out a course of action regarding the future of Afghan refugees.

However, Mr Afridi was represented by Muzzamil Aslam, former adviser to the chief minister on finance, in the meeting.

In a statement on X, the chief minister said that he had declined to attend a federal government’s meeting about agriculture and Afghan refugees on the ground that attending such meetings without policy guidelines from detained PTI founder Imran Khan would be an insult to people’s mandate.

He hoped that the federal government would resolve the issue of his meeting with Mr Khan and direct relevant authorities to arrange his regular meetings with the party’s founder.

Mr Afridi said that his legal team was approaching the Islamabad High Court and other forums on the matter.

Hopes Centre will ensure his meeting with Imran in jail

Earlier in the day, he was denied a meeting with Mr Imran in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. He returned after waiting for permission for over two hours.

Mr Afridi has approached Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi through the registrar of the apex court, requesting him to direct the federal government and other relevant authorities to arrange his meeting with Mr Imran.

The letter, sent by KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel, said that following his election as the chief minister, Mr Afridi was under constitutional and moral obligation to consult Imran Khan for guidance and instruction on urgent and sensitive matters concerning governance and cabinet formation in the province.

“I have already approached the secretary of the ministry of interior and secretary home department Punjab for arranging a meeting Mr Khan; however, despite repeated communications follow-ups, the said meeting has not yet been confirmed,” the letter noted.

It added that Mr Afridi was responsible for the governance and securing the fundamental rights and matters relating to the security situation, formation of provincial cabinet, and critical economic challenges faced by the people of the province.

“There is a pressing need to seek direction from Mr [Imran] Khan regarding these matters and others related to the federation and other provinces,” the letter said. It said that seeking the PTI founder’s directions was extremely essential as the Punjab government had stopped inter-provincial trade of flour and wheat.

Mr Afridi, who took oath of office on Wednesday after several days of deadlock, has yet not to form his cabinet.

Talking to reporters on the Peshawar High Court’s premises here on Thursday, he said that he would announce his cabinet after getting its approval from Mr Imran.

Meanwhile, former adviser to the chief minister Muzzammil Aslam told Dawn that in the meeting with PM, he raised the province’s concerns over the hasty closure of 28 refugee camps in the province, as ordered by the federal government on Monday.

He said that KP had 38 refugee camps compared to 10 in Punjab and one in Balochistan, so the Centre shouldn’t take any hasty decision on the matter.

Mr Aslam said he also raised the issue of dignified return of refugees as well as business visa policy for Afghan businessmen.

He said that the meeting agreed that KP and the interior ministry would hold a meeting over the repatriation of refugees.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

KP CM Afridi calls for a grand peace jirgah on Oct 25

The newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called for a grand peace jirgah on October 25, in the province’s Khyber district, in a bid to discuss avenues for “establishment of peace” in the province.

In a statement on X, Afridi said, “For the establishment of peace, a grand peace jirga of tribal elders, leaders, and youth — transcending political affiliations — will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Khyber District, Bara Tehsil.”

Stressing the need for prioritising the will of KP’s people in deciding the matters of the province, he said, “The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will themselves decide their lives and their future.”

“No one will be allowed to impose decisions made in closed rooms on the people,” he said, vowing that the KP government “will stand with Imran Khan’s ideology and the interests of the people.”

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

Punjab ‘ban’ on wheat movement violation of Constitution: KP CM Afridi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Wednesday condemned the Punjab government’s ‘move’ to restrict transportation of wheat and its flour to his province.

The chief minister termed the ‘ban’, a blatant violation of the Constitution and an attack on the rights of the KP citizens.

The chief minister, while presiding over a meeting, directed the food department high-ups to write a letter to the Punjab government demanding immediate removal of all restrictions to ensure free movement of wheat and its flour across the provincial borders, according to a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat.

Mr Afridi said hiding behind political differences to deprive citizens of basic necessities was unacceptable.

He also directed the food department to take pragmatic steps against all types of hoarding to ensure availability of essential food items at officially fixed rates.

He ordered the immediate registration of all warehouses across the province, the statement said.

During the meeting, the chief minister was briefed on the province’s current wheat and sugar stocks and prevailing prices.

Officials from the food department informed the meeting that KP’s annual wheat and flour consumption was approximately 5.3 million metric tons, of which only 1.5 million metric tons were produced locally.

The remaining requirement, according to the statement, was met through supplies from Punjab and other provinces.

The chief minister was informed that at present, around 273,000 metric tons of wheat was available in godowns across the province.

The meeting was informed that the recent surge in flour prices was primarily caused by restrictions imposed by Punjab on the transportation of wheat and flour to KP.

Regarding sugar, officials noted that the province’s annual requirement was around one million tons — 30 per cent for domestic use and 70 per cent for commercial consumption. The meeting was informed that KP had about 480,000 metric tons of sugar in stock right now.

The chief minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that no political obstacle would be allowed to endanger food security or exploit citizens for partisan gains.

DAWN NEWS

 

[Bewal Express]

Munna Muneer called Afridi's demand that the court order that allows Afridi to meet IK to be implemented as badmashi and it wont be tolerated by the oath breakers

@Major
Can you throw light on this badmashi.

 

[BouncerGuy]

KP CM Afridi orders construction of district, tehsil complexes in ex-Fata

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi on Monday directed the officials to complete land acquisition for the construction of new district and tehsil complexes across the merged districts of the province within one month for improved service delivery.

Chairing a meeting of the planning and development department, Mr Afridi directed that progress on all ongoing development projects be ensured in line with set timelines, stressing that there was no room for delays in public welfare initiatives. “Our goal is to ensure that the benefits of these projects reach the people directly and without delay,” he said, according to a statement issued here.

Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Ikramullah Khan, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Mohammad Abid Majeed, and other senior officials of the planning and development department attended the meeting.

Mr Afridi stated that the establishment of new complexes would ensure the provision of public services at the citizens’ doorstep.

The chief minister also instructed the participants to accelerate work on the provincial power transmission line project, emphasising that the province’s own transmission system would enable the supply of affordable electricity to industries and the general public. He added that industrial development was essential for creating employment opportunities.

The meeting was informed that a total of 2,186 schemes had been included in the development programme 2025-26, with an allocation of Rs520 billion. Under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Annual Development Programme, 1,577 schemes had been allocated Rs215 billion, out of which Rs73 billion had already been released. Similarly, Rs6.6 billion had been allocated for the merged districts’ ADB, while Rs50 billion had been earmarked under the Accelerated Implementation Programme for merged districts, of which Rs19.4 billion had been released.

The meeting was further informed that the federal government had not released funds for the AIP during the current fiscal year; however, the provincial government had released Rs19.4 billion from its own resources.

By the end of the current fiscal year, 470 development projects were expected to be completed.

DAWN NEWS

 

[Bewal Express]

He has made a good start. At this point he shown bravery and stuck to his principles. However, bigger tests await as the criminal oath breaking Generals use every tactic to blackmail and attack him. His call for the Jirga was also a masterstroke and will help to reduce tensions

 

[BouncerGuy]

KP CM Afridi picks cabinet; oath-taking ceremony to take place later today

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi early on Friday announced his provincial cabinet comprising 10 provincial ministers, two advisers and one special assistant, with the oath-taking ceremony to take place later today.

According to a summary sent to the KP governor by the provincial government, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Afridi picked Meena Khan Afridi, Arshad Ayub Khan, Amjad Ali, Aftab Alam Khan, Fazal Shakoor Khan, Khaleequr Rahman, Riaz Khan, Syed Fakhar Jehan, Aqibullah Khan and Faisal Khan as provincial ministers.

He also picked Muzammil Aslam and Taj Muhammad as advisers, and Shafi Jan as a special assistant. The PTI’s KP chapter also confirmed the names in a post on social media platform X.

Subsequently, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that he had signed the summary for the new KP cabinet that was submitted by the chief minister.

“The oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed provincial ministers will take place at the Governor House today at 3pm,” he said.

Meanwhile, former KP minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra congratulated the new provincial cabinet and wished them all the best.

Afridi — who was elected the new provincial chief executive earlier this month — had previously insisted that he would announce his team after meeting incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. However, after repeated attempts to meet the former premier were unsuccessful, Imran’s sister told the newly appointed CM he had “complete authority” to form the provincial cabinet.

Opposition members in the KP Assembly had been criticising the ruling PTI over its failure to form the provincial cabinet, saying government affairs had come to a halt. The lawmakers had also voiced the fear that the prolonged delay in the cabinet formation was tantamount to inviting the imposition of an emergency in the province.

The PTI’s provincial chapter had previously also insisted that members of the previous cabinet with “corruption allegations and bad reputation” should not be part of the new one.

DAWN NEWS

 

[Bewal Express]

KP CM Afridi picks cabinet; oath-taking ceremony to take place later today

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi early on Friday announced his provincial cabinet comprising 10 provincial ministers, two advisers and one special assistant, with the oath-taking ceremony to take place later today.

According to a summary sent to the KP governor by the provincial government, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Afridi picked Meena Khan Afridi, Arshad Ayub Khan, Amjad Ali, Aftab Alam Khan, Fazal Shakoor Khan, Khaleequr Rahman, Riaz Khan, Syed Fakhar Jehan, Aqibullah Khan and Faisal Khan as provincial ministers.

He also picked Muzammil Aslam and Taj Muhammad as advisers, and Shafi Jan as a special assistant. The PTI’s KP chapter also confirmed the names in a post on social media platform X.

Subsequently, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that he had signed the summary for the new KP cabinet that was submitted by the chief minister.

“The oath-taking ceremony of the newly appointed provincial ministers will take place at the Governor House today at 3pm,” he said.

Meanwhile, former KP minister Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra congratulated the new provincial cabinet and wished them all the best.

Afridi — who was elected the new provincial chief executive earlier this month — had previously insisted that he would announce his team after meeting incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. However, after repeated attempts to meet the former premier were unsuccessful, Imran’s sister told the newly appointed CM he had “complete authority” to form the provincial cabinet.

Opposition members in the KP Assembly had been criticising the ruling PTI over its failure to form the provincial cabinet, saying government affairs had come to a halt. The lawmakers had also voiced the fear that the prolonged delay in the cabinet formation was tantamount to inviting the imposition of an emergency in the province.

The PTI’s provincial chapter had previously also insisted that members of the previous cabinet with “corruption allegations and bad reputation” should not be part of the new one.

DAWN NEWS

Only 10 in total. Finally some sense in these cabinets.

 

[BouncerGuy]

‘No democracy without women’s participation’: Eyebrows raised at KP’s all-male cabinet

After days of existing in a state of limbo, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s new cabinet finally took shape on Friday after ten provincial ministers were sworn in while two advisers and a special assistant were appointed.

However, many on social media were quick to point out that the new KP government, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at the helm, lacked female representation.

“No woman representation, afsos (regrettable),” said Haroon Rashid, managing editor at Independent Urdu.

“These all-male clubs are not only unacceptable but also unstoppable,” said journalist Mariana Baabar.

“So it’s an all-male 13-member provincial cabinet picked by KP CM Afridi that took the oath of office on Friday in Peshawar,” she said.

National Democratic Movement member and ex-MNA Bushra Gohar, replying to KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, pointed out that he had “signed the summary of an all-male provincial cabinet”.

“You could have at least raised an observation about it. Concerning that women are excluded from all key decisions forums in the province,” she added.

Journalist Zahid Gishkori said he hoped that CM Afridi would include at least one woman in his cabinet.

Writer and activist Afiya Shehrbano Zia said the appointment of an “all-male KP cabinet reveals the limits of women’s loyalty to a populist male leader — only symbolic rewards available for political tradwives”.

Aaj TV Peshawar Bureau Chief Farzana Ali responded to a post from producer Adeel Raja, who said that the PTI’s reserved seats for women were “snatched” from the party and the lone woman who won on a general seat was the current deputy speaker of the provincial assembly.

Responding to this, she said that women could still be appointed as advisers and special assistants. She further stated that capable women like Ayesha Bano, a former member of the provincial assembly, can be included.

Former KP ombudsperson Rukhshanda Naz noted, “Men are included as advisers, why not women? There is no democracy without women’s participation.”

Meanwhile, Shireen Mazari, ex-human rights minister and former PTI leader, also joined the discourse. Echoing Raja’s opinion, she said that the ruling party only had one directly elected woman member in KP, who was also the current deputy speaker.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan/Supreme Court denied PTI the reserved seats it should have been given and merrily distributed them as free gifts to all other parties in the KP assembly. Was that acceptable to you?” she asked while responding to Baabar’s post.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

KP pushes Centre for early construction of Chashma Right Bank Canal

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi has asked the federal government to start physical work on the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) and arrange funding for this project from the public sector development programme (PSDP) or donor financing.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mr Afridi said a long delay in the execution of the mega project was creating mistrust between the federal government and the people of KP.

He said the KP government had taken up the issue with federal authorities on several occasions over the last few years.

“At the time of the approval of the Water Apportionment Accord in 1991, it was decided to develop one mega irrigation project in every province. As per that decision, Thal Canal has been constructed in Punjab, Rainee Canal in Sindh and Kachi Canal in Balochistan but the CRBC, the first lift-cum-gravity project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has not been executed despite a lapse of 35 years,” he said.

CM writes to PM for arranging required funds to ensure start of physical work on delayed project

The chief minister said that in March 2016, the Council of Common Interest (CCI) decided that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would present a new PC-I for Chashma Right Bank Lift Irrigation Canal Project with 65pc and 35pc contribution by the federal and provincial governments, respectively.

He also said that the CCI had agreed that the province would be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the canal.

“Keeping in view the critical importance of this project for the province, the provincial government agreed to 35pc financing even though the project should have been financed and executed entirely from PSDP,” he noted.

Mr Afridi said that on the recommendations of CDWP, the ECNEC later approved the project’s PC-I in a meeting on Oct 2022, while the ministry of water resources issued administrative approval for the construction of Chashma Right Bank Canal (Lift-Cum-Gravity) project, Dera Ismail Khan, in November 2022 at a cost of Rs189.606 billion, including Rs180 billion foreign exchange of the Rs180 billion foreign exchange component.

He said that the CRBC project would off-take from the right bank of Chashma Barrage, with the canal commanding areas of Dera Ismail Khan plains above the existing CRBC (gravity) canal extending up to the KP-Punjab boundary.

The chief minister said the project’s command area was located west of Chashma Right Bank (Gravity) Canal and there were vast tracts of potentially productive lands in Dera Ismail Khan plains, which were lying uncultivated.

“Total cultivable command area available for the irrigated agriculture development is 323,077ha (798,000 acres). However, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has allocated (1.187MAF, Kharif: 0.614MAF; Rabi: 0.573MAF) water for Chashma Right Bank Canal (L&G) project, which can meet irrigation requirement of 2,86,140 acres of cultivable command area,” he said.

Mr Afridi also said that the CRBC project had a canal length of 130.76km with designed discharge of 2,556 cusecs of water.

He said that the general area of the project had remained volatile due to low economic and social indicators, although millions of acres of land was available for cultivation but due to absence of irrigation, the land was lying barren.

The chief minister said that construction of the CRBC Canal system would generate around Rs38 billion per year in the area.

“This region has already been worst affected by terrorism and poverty. Economic activity based on agricultural inputs can alleviate the area of this menace through employment generation. Special Economic Zones and industrial parks can also be developed keeping in mind the vast potential of the project and close proximity to CPEC Western Route,” he said.

Mr Afridi also said that the project would also help reduce the country’s import bill for staple food, ensuring food security not only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but in Punjab as well.

Pointing out the issues delaying the execution of the mega project, he noted that since the approval of the project in Nov 2022 by the Ecnec, Wapda was unable to finalise the prequalification and procurement process, and was delaying the process on one pretext or another.

The chief minister said that a land acquisition collector had been posted for the project by the KP government but the process was facing delays because of Wapda.

He insisted thatRs2 billion was released to Wapda in 2024-25for land acquisition.

Mr Afridi said that In 2025-26, KP had made further allocation of Rs5 billion for land acquisition, with Rs2.2 billion released to Wapda, whereas the federal government had made an allocation of Rs100 million only in the current fiscal’s PSDP.

He urged the prime minister to direct the water resources ministry to arrange required funding through PSDP or donors and ensure start of physical execution at site without further delay in the country’s best interest.