ISLAMABAD; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday said that the Peshawar corps commander had visited him at the CM Secretariat earlier to congratulate him, clarifying that the meeting was informal and not related to official matters.
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, Afridi explained, “He came to congratulate me; it was not an official exchange. The conversation was informal, and our stance remains the same everywhere — what we say inside is what we say outside.”
Responding to further questions, Afridi said that as the province’s chief executive, he routinely meets top officials such as the inspector general of police and the chief secretary. “Similarly, the corps commander and other security institution officers will also come to my office to discuss matters concerning the province,” he added.
Apparently referring to the chain of command, he remarked that security officials should visit the offices of the chief ministers and the prime minister, instead of political leaders having to go to them.
The KP chief minister reaffirmed that his government’s position aligns fully with that of the PTI and its imprisoned founder, Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since 2023. Imran has long accused former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa of orchestrating his removal through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Imran’s family and the PTI have often alleged that prison authorities have been obstructing his meetings, while several PTI supporters have faced military trials over the May 9, 2023, protests that followed Imran’s arrest — protests during which both civilian and military properties were vandalised.
Afridi also reiterated his opposition to military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in contrast to his predecessor, Ali Amin Gandapur, who had supported the use of force against terrorists. Gandapur was recently removed as CM on Imran’s directive, with Afridi subsequently elected to replace him on October 13.
Just days before Afridi’s election, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had addressed a press conference in Peshawar, where he criticized those advocating talks instead of operations against terrorist groups. He emphasized that the state remains united against terrorism and said, “Our war against terrorism and counterterrorism activities will continue without political distractions.”
Outside the Supreme Court, Afridi also alleged that the judiciary had been “held hostage” since Imran Khan’s ouster on April 9, 2022. “We stand with those judges who want to deliver justice,” he said, lamenting that officials were disregarding court orders allowing him to meet Imran in jail. He added that his name was on today’s visitors’ list and that if denied again, he would wait for the court’s ruling.
