Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated Sohail Afridi on his election as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), stressing the importance of coordination between the federal and provincial governments to achieve national goals.
This was the first telephonic conversation between the two leaders following Afridi’s election to the province’s top post, which took place amid ongoing political tension between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)–led federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)–led KP administration. During the call, PM Shehbaz assured the newly elected chief minister that the Centre was ready to work with the KP government “in Pakistan’s best interests.”
In response, CM Sohail Afridi expressed his gratitude for the prime minister’s gesture. He said he had informed the premier that KP represents a population of over 45 million people and requested permission to meet the PTI founder, who remains in Adiala Jail.
Afridi told reporters in Rawalpindi that he had formally written to both the federal and Punjab governments seeking permission to meet his party leader but had not received a reply.
“The prime minister told me he would look into the matter and inform me accordingly,” Afridi said. “We have always followed lawful procedures and will continue to do so.”
The KP chief minister dismissed accusations that PTI engages only in protest politics, saying the party has always chosen peaceful demonstrations to seek justice. “When justice is not provided through the courts, peaceful protest becomes our constitutional right,” Afridi asserted.
He added that if needed, he would form an advisory council himself, emphasising that “Pakistan comes first, everything else follows.” Afridi said he had already begun taking steps for the PTI founder’s release and would consult him regarding the formation of the provincial cabinet.
Sohail Afridi, a young PTI leader from Bara tehsil in Khyber district, previously served as the provincial minister for higher education. Known for his grassroots activism and longstanding association with PTI since his student days, Afridi is regarded as one of the party’s most ideological members.
In his maiden speech at the KP Assembly, Afridi described himself as “a champion of confrontational politics,” signalling his intention to continue his predecessor’s campaign for the PTI founder’s release with renewed determination. He warned that if the PTI founder were moved from Adiala Jail without consultation, the party would “paralyse the whole country” in protest.
Read: PTI’s Sohail Afridi Elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s New Chief Minister
Afridi also urged the federal government to review its Afghan policy, citing the rise in terrorism across KP a stance that contrasted with the Centre’s approach. His remarks prompted a strong reaction from Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who called the statement “against the Constitution and the law.”
Speaking on Geo News’ Capital Talk, Sanaullah said, “Sohail Afridi is implying that he will not cooperate with the federal government. While provinces have autonomy under the 18th Amendment, they cannot defy the Centre.”
He added, “If the chief minister acts in line with his speech, it will be difficult for him to function under the Constitution.” Sanaullah also urged the PTI to behave “like a political party” if it seeks “democratic treatment” from the state and institutions
