No Military Operation Will Be Permitted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Ready to Step Down from Office Rather Than Compromise, Says Chief Minister Sohail Afridi
PESHAWAR : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is standing defiant against the pressure from the federal government, saying that political forces were involved in dialogue but he will strongly oppose any offer to conduct military operations in KP, even if it means he will lose his seat.
Making statements to the media, the KP chief minister stressed that his government wanted the political deadlocks to be resolved peacefully through U-turns in the ongoing political process, which included the demands of holding meetings with the PTI founding chairman and ensuring his proper medical treatment, but would not compromise on core security positions.
The key highlights of the Press Statement by the Commissioner of Police (CP) Sohail Afridi are as follows:
Rejection of Military Operation: Chief Minister Afridi declared that if any future negotiations involve the possibility of a military operation in KP he would reject it “a hundred times over”, saying that he was fully ready to quit office, rather than give permission for a military operation.
Governor’s Rule and Emergency: Afridi had cautioned against both threats under Governor’s Rule or administrative emergency would result in a large scale public reaction, not just from the PTI leadership, but from the masses.
The chief minister reiterated that peaceful protest is a basic constitutional right, and vowed to work with other provinces to overcome the challenges they are facing now, after commenting on the administration’s continued pressure and illegal actions.