PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday strongly condemned the remarks made by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi that allegedly disparaged Pakistan’s security forces and questioned counterterrorism operations in the province.
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail a day earlier, CM Afridi accused security forces in KP of “bringing dogs into mosques and tying them there,” claiming that such actions violated the sanctity of holy sites. “When we told them this is wrong, they said, ‘you and these dogs are no different.’ Despite this, we still support them … but do they know the pain of my people?” Afridi remarked.
Governor Kundi, sharing a video of the CM’s comments on X, condemned the statement, saying it undermined the “honour and sacrifice” of Pakistan’s armed forces. “The brave sons of our soil lay down their lives to protect our province — questioning their intent in such sensational terms only damages morale and public safety,” he wrote.
He added that intelligence-based operations were crucial for maintaining peace and security, stressing that these actions were conducted solely for public protection.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Union of Journalists (KUJ) also criticised the CM’s statement, with its president urging Afridi to “choose his words responsibly, refrain from politicising religious places, and speak with a sense of national unity.”
Separately, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi condemned CM Afridi’s remarks as “misleading and regrettable.” He said the army had always been the protector of mosques and seminaries, adding that “the foundation of the Pakistan Army is faith, piety, and jihad in the way of Allah.”
Ashrafi said the military had fought and won major wars against terrorism and was once again defending Pakistan from militant threats. “Terrorists have attacked mosques of the Pakistan Army as well, but our soldiers continue to stand firm in the defense of faith and the nation,” he added.
