Afridi assures Centre of support for sake of 'peace'

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, belonging to embattled Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), appears to dial down the political heat, showing a shift from confrontation to cautious cooperation as he assured the federal government of his support “for the sake of peace.

- Tariq Butt

”After weeks of barbed exchanges between KP and the Centre, Afridi, who was appointed in midstream to steady the provincial ship last month, said he will attend national security forums to press KP’s case. “I will attend a meeting of the National Security Committee [NSC],” he told reporters, adding that he would participate in any Centre-led forum to “speak up” for provincial rights.

Afridi stressed that KP’s worsening security landscape leaves little room for political grandstanding. “Terrorism has affected every sector of KP. Anyone who martyrs our soldiers is a terrorist,” he said and added that there would be no compromise on law and order.

The chief minister also rejected allegations that the PTI had resettled militants. “The accusation that PTI brought militants back is false.”