Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday said the province has “no choice but to eliminate terrorism at all costs.”
Speaking informally with journalists in Islamabad, he addressed recent political statements, gaps in security resources, and criticism over his participation in national meetings
Sohail Afridi said terrorism must be rooted out “no matter what,” adding that the provincial police and CTD are fully capable of dealing with militant threats. He praised the Counter Terrorism Department for its “countless sacrifices.”
He added that “whoever targets our soldiers is a terrorist,” reiterating that KP’s law-enforcement agencies continue to operate under severe pressure.
Resources still lacking
The chief minister acknowledged that KP still faces a shortage of essential security resources. He said the government is diverting development funds to support the police and CTD.
“There is also a delay in acquiring bulletproof vehicles,” he noted, adding that he has instructed officials to draft new provincial legislation aimed at ensuring strict punishment for terrorists.
Afridi said gaps in the existing anti-terror laws must also be removed for better enforcement.
Sohail Afridi said remarks suggesting he would go to Afghanistan were “incorrect,” adding that such statements should not be attributed to him. He also called for an inquiry into MPA Muhammad Jalal’s recent comments.
On another matter, he said that Junaid Akbar’s statement about blocking water was “wrong,” emphasizing that political disagreements should not lead to hardships for the public.
Addressing criticism about his absence from the National Security meeting, Afridi said the perception was wrong. “One meeting was about wheat, and at the time I had said I was new to the office,” he explained.
He added that he was never invited to the NFC meeting, countering reports that he skipped it deliberately.
The KP chief minister said he welcomes the federal government to conduct an audit in the province. “But the federation should also pay our dues,” he said. He added that even if his own brother is involved in corruption, “he should be punished.”
Afridi said the province is exploring “out-of-the-box solutions” to eliminate terrorism and ensure long-term stability.
