PESHAWAR (MNN); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced on Sunday that the provincial government would actively participate in the upcoming National Finance Commission meeting on December 4 and present a strong case for the rights and financial share of the province. He stated that his administration would ensure that the people of KP were represented with full commitment and seriousness.
The 11th NFC was formed on August 22 to decide a fresh formula for distributing the federation’s divisible pool between the Centre and provinces. However, the commission’s meeting has faced repeated postponements — first planned for August 27, later shifted to August 29, and subsequently delayed multiple times on the requests of Sindh government and the Prime Minister’s Office.
CM Afridi reiterated earlier this week that the federal government owed KP Rs1.3 trillion under the NFC arrangement. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, he stressed that although the ex-Fata districts were merged with KP in 2018, they still had not been financially merged, as their NFC share had not been released for six years. He termed this delay a violation of constitutional commitments.
Afridi maintained that the federation must consider KP’s proposals for restoring long-term peace in the region. He said that decisions taken without consulting the province created problems for stability and governance. If the Centre accepted their recommendations, KP would fulfil its responsibility to ensure security and implementation, he added.
He also accused certain elements of continuously trying to push PTI into conflict, but emphasized that the party would remain peaceful despite challenges. However, he stated that they would never shy away from sacrifices. Afridi claimed that peaceful PTI supporters were targeted, while Imran Khan was being kept in isolation, denying even family access including his sisters.
The chief minister announced that PTI lawmakers — from provincial and national assemblies along with senators — would stage a peaceful demonstration outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday against delayed court proceedings. From there, they plan to march towards Adiala Jail, accompanying Imran Khan’s sisters.
Afridi said he himself attempted to visit Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on November 27 after reports about the PTI founder’s health surfaced in international media, but prison authorities denied him a meeting even after he staged an overnight sit-in. He stated that while other chief ministers received protocol and state aircraft, his name was placed on the passport control list.
Answering questions, Afridi insisted that no area of KP was under militant control, but suggested that the entire country was operating under one individual’s command — without naming anyone. He further clarified that while his family owned property in Tirah, he personally owned none, dismissing a recent documentary against him as propaganda that failed to mislead the public.
He concluded that people now recognize truth from false narratives, and only honesty and responsibility could lead Pakistan towards development.
