Consultations under way for Islamabad protest over Imran Khan’s release: CM Afridi

MANSEHRA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi said on Wednesday that consultations were under way with political leaders, including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, to formulate a joint strategy for a protest in Islamabad aimed at pressing for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founding chairman Imran Khan.

He made the remarks while addressing a public gathering in Mansehra. KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan, deputy president Kamal Saleem Swati, and MPAs Munir Hussain Lughmani and Akramullah Ghazi were also present at the event.

"I belong to the middle class, [but] the establishment does not want me to [be at the helm in the province]. However, I want to make it clear that I have spent 20 years promoting Imran’s philosophy and will not hesitate to sacrifice even my life for his dignity and honour,” the chief minister said during his speech.

Mr Afridi said he was neither a terrorist nor a smuggler, and claimed that efforts were being made to remove him from the office of chief minister. “I am proud to be a loyal soldier of Imran Khan and will leave no stone unturned in securing his release,” he added.

According to the chief minister, the party had already approached the high courts, the Supreme Court and provincial legislatures in an effort to secure Imran Khan’s release from jail. He said the next step would be to move towards the federal capital after a joint strategy had been worked out.

“Now, we will move towards the federal capital after evolving a joint strategy to secure his release,” he said.

Mr Afridi also spoke about the security situation in the province, saying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been turned into a testing ground, which had led to significant loss of life among civilians and law enforcement personnel. He said the provincial government had informed the authorities when militants began coming down from the mountains and later reached urban areas, but the federal government did not respond to those concerns.

“We [duly] informed the authorities [when] terrorists [started] descending from the mountains and later reaching cities, but the federal government did pay any heed to our concerns. Now innocent people and security personnel are being martyred [in terrorist attacks],” he said.

The chief minister warned that his government would not support military operations against terrorism if decisions continued to be taken without consulting the KP government and the people of the province.

PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and deputy president Kamal Saleem also addressed the gathering. They said they had never worked for offices or money, but for the cause of Imran Khan, and would continue their struggle for his release. Participants at the rally raised slogans calling for the release of the PTI founding chairman.

Development package for Mansehra

Earlier, Mr Afridi announced development schemes worth Rs25 billion for Mansehra. The package included a Rs18 billion gravity water supply scheme and Rs180 million for the purchase of land for graveyards.

He also announced Rs1.8 billion for the development of recreational facilities at Kotkay Dam. In addition, he announced the establishment of a medical college, the creation of Tanawal tehsil, and projects related to the health and education sectors.