CM Afridi rejects govt’s ‘voluntary displacement’ claim; Claims govt wants to pit K-P govt against security forces
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has rejected as “misleading and factually incorrect” the federal government’s claim that displacement of the residents of the Tirah valley of Khyber district is voluntary in nature.
Afridi, who belongs to Imran Khan’s PTI, has warned that if the notification is not withdrawn and an apology is not issued, he will convene a jirga of the Afridi tribe in the district.
Addressing rallies in different areas of the K-P including Mingora city of Swat, the CM accused the federal governments of trying to pit the provincial government and the state institutions.
He announced that all future communications with the federal government will be documented in writing and supported by evidence, and that such tactics would not be allowed to succeed.
The Ministry of Information on Saturday took notice of “misleading claims” in circulation regarding alleged “depopulation” from Tirah Valley on the orders of the army.
In a statement issued to the media, it said these assertions were baseless, malicious, and driven by ulterior motives aimed at creating alarm among the public, disinformation against security institutions and furthering vested political interest. It said no directive had been issued for the depopulation of Tirah by the federal government and the Armed Forces.
Referring to Khyber’s deputy commissioner, the statement, however, noted that “a voluntary movement” of people of the valley reflected the views and preferences of the population, articulated through a representative jirga convened at the district level, “taking into account seasonal, logistical and contextual considerations, as well as a non-camp-based modality”.
Addressing another rally in Chakdara, the CM said the recent federal government notification claiming that the Tirah affectees migrated of their own will was based on “open injustice” and “a denial of facts”.
He said that the people of Tirah are going through the harshest conditions, and the root cause of these problems “is the fake government established under Form 47, which ignored ground realities and left the people helpless”.
The CM warned against using Pashtun regions as testing grounds for failed policies and asserted that he would remain firm in defending the rights of the province and its people.
“These people impose decisions made in closed rooms, and when those decisions fail, they step back. Decisions imposed in secrecy often collapse when confronted with reality,” he said.
Declaring former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment unjust, he described it as a political sacrifice and said the party and supporters remain fully aligned with him.
He said the PTI’s street movement is continuing across Pakistan and that the people of Swat and other parts of the country have clearly expressed their political will.
“Political parties relying on financial incentives or material inducements to mobilize supporters will eventually fade as the dominant political voice in Pakistan remains that of Imran Khan.
“Unprecedented public enthusiasm was witnessed across Punjab, Sindh, Hazara, Peshawar Region, and Malakand. Supporters of Imran Khan’s vision have no political parallel,” he said.
The CM said the mandate of the people belongs to PTI founder Imran Khan and that he derives his legitimacy from that mandate.
Sohail Afridi claimed that multiple tactics were employed to prevent his appointment as K-P chief minister, including the construction of various narratives portraying him as associated with smugglers and militants.
“After attempts such as Governor’s Rule and regime change failed, efforts are now underway to undermine public confidence in the PTI,” he added.
He rejected claims that his party is hostile to the military or state institutions, stating that while they respect institutions completely, they do not accept decisions made behind closed doors without public mandate.
“Attempts to damage the party’s image would not succeed,” he added.
The PTI’s street movement rally began in Mingora and concluded in Chakdara, with large-scale public participation and receptions throughout the route, culminating in a massive gathering in Chakdara.
In his concluding address at Chakdara, the CM thanked participants for their magnificent reception and said the people of Malakand Region have once again proven that this region possesses the full capacity to stand firmly against oppression, tyranny and injustice.
“Public mobilization and Pashtun solidarity has sent a strong political message,” he said.
