Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Monday that the Sindh government had not upheld the honour of the ajrak and topi and criticised its treatment of its “guests”.
The chief minister is currently on a visit to Karachi, where he staged a rally at the Mazar-i-Quaid on Sunday.
In an address to the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) in Karachi on Monday, Afridi thanked all the SHCBA members for their warm welcome and generous hospitality, adding that people from all over Pakistan — including Pashtuns, Kashmiris, Balochis — of every school of thought were present there.
In contrast to this welcome from the public, however, he decried the provincial government’s treatment of him and his guests in Karachi, saying that they had “desecrated” the honour of the Sindhi ajrak and topi.
“I think every Sindhi will fully condemn this,” he said amid an outcry of support from the crowd.
The KP CM also criticised the fact that the constitution and law were being “toyed with,” saying that it was not only damaging institutions but the whole of Pakistan.
“On one hand, they are selling our national assets — they auctioned PIA on OLX,” he said, referring to the recent auction of the national airline. “But here they have sold justice.”
Afridi added that the general public at least had hope that the judiciary would provide them justice and stand with them.
He said that, although three judges in Islamabad had issued an order that he be allowed to meet the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, “the jail superintendent picks up this order and throws it away”.
“We are accused of protest politics,” he added. “But our Constitution allows us to do this, so we will do protest politics.”
He further claimed that the judiciary was not cooperating with the party, adding that he had called the chief justice repeatedly but received no answer.
“We are being put against the wall, so the only way left is for us to protest,” he said.
The chief minister affirmed that he would always stand beside those who turned out in support of the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, saying, “We have to fight for our rights ourselves … we will not get freedom on a plate.
“If we do not raise our voice, then more pressure will be put on us.”
Afridi further said that the passport of one province’s chief minister had been blocked, saying that the people of the province were being discriminated against.
However, he added that his leader, Imran, had always supported peaceful struggle.
Regarding the economy, the KP CM said that it was facing a very bad situation, with people “fleeing” Pakistan while unemployment had risen to 7.1 per cent.
“These people are building their properties abroad,” he said, adding, “These people are bound to answer to us and one day it will definitely happen”.
The chief minister told the crowd that he had come to Karachi as his [Imran] leader had directed him to call for a street movement and that he hoped for “full support” from them.
Expressing his thanks, he said, “I hope the rule of law will come to Pakistan one day.”
More to follow
