CM Afridi insists on taking KP into confidence in fight against terrorism

Speaking at a press conference at Al-Amin House, the residence of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Afridi condemned the blast in Daraz Nanda and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

The chief minister said anyone who takes up arms against Pakistan is a terrorist, adding that both civilians and security personnel are sacrificing their lives in the fight against terrorism. Afridi said the provincial government had allocated Rs35 billion to the police to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and eliminating terrorism.

He maintained that the government was serious about combating militancy and said families of those killed in the current wave of terrorism would receive a martyr package. “Lasting peace cannot be established in the province without taking the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into confidence,” he said.

Expressing concern over the security situation in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Afridi said his government did not accept decisions made behind closed-door. He also alleged that three individuals were contributing to the spread of hatred in the country, without naming them.

The chief minister further raised concerns over the shortage of armoured vehicles for the province, saying that despite payments being made, the vehicles had not been supplied. He called on the federal government to provide armoured vehicles to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the earliest, saying the province was bearing the brunt of the violence.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is carrying the funerals, the province is injured, while the federation is taking the plane,” Afridi said.