ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said no political matters were discussed during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing that the discussion remained focused on governance, security and financial issues facing the province.
The meeting — which lasted for over an hour — was the first since Afridi took office as the provincial chief executive on October 13 last year.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser to Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam and Adviser to the KP government on finance, Muzzammil Aslam, attended the meeting.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting in Islamabad, Afridi said that Rs2,600 billion meant for the merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained blocked, adding that the matter was taken up directly with the prime minister.
“The prime minister has issued directions for the release of these funds,” the chief minister said.
Referring to the security situation in the province, Afridi said terrorism has no province and no country, and stressed that it must be confronted as a national challenge.
He announced that after Eid, a follow-up meeting will be held in which terrorism and related security matters will be discussed in detail.
“We are already speaking openly and presenting our position clearly,” the chief minister said, responding to a question about the province’s stance on counterterrorism and governance matters.
Addressing speculation about political engagement, Afridi categorically said that no discussion was held about any meeting with incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. He further clarified that nothing was discussed regarding a meeting between the PTI founder and his sisters.
Commenting on the country’s financial situation, the KP chief minister said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on Rs5,300 billion is effectively a “charge sheet”, reflecting serious financial and governance shortcomings.
Highlighting the situation in conflict-affected tribal regions, Afridi said that the people of Tirah, Kurram and Bajaur are making enormous sacrifices, adding that an allocation of Rs4 billion is virtually nothing for communities that have borne such heavy losses.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details
