The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)  has registered a case against KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi under sections 11, 20 and 26-A of Prevention of Cyber Crimes Act (PCCIA). According to the FIR Sohail Afridi along with others knowingly and deliberately made false, misleading, derogatory and intimidating statements against state institutions with mala fide intentions and ulterior motives. He is also alleged to have uploaded a video of the statement on YouTube channel PTI official KPK.
The FIR further states that statements of the accused and others on social media constitute an organized attempt to undermine public trust in state institutions and are intended to foment unrest in the country and destabilize national security. The CM has also been found involved in preparing, publishing, sharing and circulating fake and misleading content on social media to incite violence, create racial hatred, panic, fear, disorder and unrest among the public and promote anti-state sentiments.
It is indeed regrettable to see the chief minister of a province acting like a loose cannon and saying things which descend into the realm of anti-state posturing that align with the anti-Army rhetoric of our enemies. Perhaps it would be appropriate to mention for the benefit of the readers and the general public what he exactly said so that they can understand the severity of the situation warranting legal action against him. Reportedly he said “We saw that security forces had tied dogs inside our mosques. When we objected, we were told that it’s not an issue and that we are no different from them. Any policy that harms the public interest is unacceptable; we have never accepted such policies in the past, and we will not accept them in the future either.”
Criticizing military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas, he added that many civilians were being killed in these operations and called them war crimes committed by Pakistan Army.
The Army personnel are Muslims for whom it is abhorrent even to think about desecrating a mosque. The Army is conducting intelligence-based operations and targeting only the hide-outs of the terrorists and their facilitators and not the civilians. What Sohail Afridi has alleged is the creation of a dirty mind hell-bent on creating hatred against the security forces and also fomenting unrest among the religious community.
It is said that it takes two to tango. The issue of terrorism can only be resolved when the Taliban show inclination and honesty of purpose in resolving this conundrum. Pakistan has rightly taken the stance that it will no more tolerate cross-border attacks and any such attempt will be met with ruthless force. However it still remains committed to peaceful resolution through dialogue if the other side exhibits similar reciprocity. PTI and its founder must realize that state and its security comes first and politics can be done only within parameters of patriotism.
By making the foregoing statement he has crossed the red line. Ever since being sworn as KP CM, he has maintained defiant postures towards the central government and has vociferously opposed action against terrorists who, coming from across the border, have been launching attacks on security and law enforcing agencies in which many civilians have also lost their lives. His indiscretions in this regard are being used to malign Pakistan and its security forces by the enemies through relentless media campaigns. He has actually become a security risk for Pakistan.
The country currently is faced with an existentialist threat from the phenomenon of terrorism. Our valiant security forces are rendering unparalleled sacrifices to eliminate this scourge so that people of the country could live in peace. Trying to denigrate them or level unfounded and preposterous allegations against them by a public representative is an unpardonable offence. He does not deserve to be Chief Minister of a sensitive province like KP.
Unfortunately, the PTI and its founder are relentlessly engaged in anti-establishment propaganda ever since Imran’s exit from power through constitutional means. The party is engaged in politics of disruption and chaos with the sole purpose of putting pressure on the government to secure release of its founder from prison. It simply does not sink in their minds that Imran Khan is not a political prisoner but a person convicted on charges of corruption by the courts of law and also facing criminal cases with regard to the May 9 mayhem when the PTI leaders on his urging attacked military installations and monuments of martyrs, in an obvious attempt to orchestrate a coup within the Army. Any relief to him or release is only possible through verdicts of the courts, and the establishment has nothing to do with the issue.
Regrettably Imran Khan is also guilty of bringing the terrorists back from Afghanistan and resettling them in KP which has led to resurgence in the terrorist attacks. Under the circumstances, how can Pakistan talk to the TTP– as being suggested by PTI– which has established links and support of Indian RAW in carrying out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
As far as Afghanistan is concerned Pakistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue. It has made repeated peace overtures towards Afghanistan at the bilateral and multilateral forums urging the Taliban government to fulfill its responsibilities under the Doha Agreement regarding not allowing terrorist groups to use its soil for attacks against other countries, particularly Pakistan. All these initiatives and diplomatic interactions failed to produce positive results leading to military confrontation between the two countries in the backdrop of unprovoked Afghan attacks on Pakistan’s security forces along the Pak-Afghan border. Even then Pakistan agreed to the ceasefire request by the Afghan Taliban and consequent upon intervention of Qatar and Tirkiye, and also agreed to resolve the issue under their mediation, corroborating her credentials as a peace loving country. Regrettably talks have failed to resolve the issue, with the Afghan Taliban taking an evasive stance on the core issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil and their failure to control it. The stalemate continues with no hope of breakthrough in the near future.
It is said that it takes two to tango. The issue of terrorism can only be resolved when the Taliban show inclination and honesty of purpose in resolving this conundrum. Pakistan has rightly taken the stance that it will no more tolerate cross-border attacks and any such attempt will be met with ruthless force. However it still remains committed to peaceful resolution through dialogue if the other side exhibits similar reciprocity. PTI and its founder must realize that state and its security comes first and politics can be done only within parameters of patriotism.
