'Only Imran Khan’s rule': Sohail Afridi rejects Governor’s Rule, Emergency in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi launched the first phase of the long march from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, saying his government would not accept governor’s rule or an emergency in the province.

Addressing participants of the long march at Gandi Chowk, Lakki Marwat, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said, “We are a political force and a political party. The negotiating committee that went to Islamabad yesterday had gone there to reduce political tensions.”

He said a “mindset that makes decisions behind closed doors” had been preparing to impose another decision on the people.

“This is Imran Khan’s government here, and Imran Khan’s vision and policy will prevail,” Afridi said. “We will not accept any policy that harms the Pashtuns. Only Imran Khan will rule Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We are not people who simply say yes to everything. We reject both governor’s rule and an emergency.”

Afridi said no military operation would be allowed in the province.

“We were rebels before, and we are rebels today,” he said. He accused the federal government of turning the province into a “laboratory” for the past 22 years and said operations had previously been imposed on the people against their will.

He further alleged that terrorism had once again been imposed on the province, saying, “We will put out this fire.”

Addressing the participants, Afridi said a “mindset imposed on the country for 79 years” had been attempting to impose another policy of military operations on the people.

He said the KP government was offering the federal government a clear policy and claimed that peace could be restored within 100 days if it was implemented.

“This requires good intentions, but their intention is not peace. Their intention is to eliminate Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), but even their father cannot do that,” Afridi said.

He claimed that there had been peace during Imran Khan’s tenure because his policies were appropriate, adding that terrorism had once again been imposed on the province following the regime change.

“They started this fire, and we will put it out,” he said.

Afridi called on people to come out in support of the movement, saying that young people should decide the future of Pakistan.

“There will be a sea of people in Karak; the whole world will see it. By the time we reach Swabi, millions of people will have joined our caravan, and the movement for ‘real freedom’ will have spread to every corner of the country,” he said.

He said the next stop would be Karak, followed by Kohat the day after tomorrow.