PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that the government’s top priority is to restore peace in the province, stressing that “to eliminate terrorism, decisions must be made collectively with political leaders rather than behind closed doors.”
The remarks came during a Peace Jirga held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. The jirga was convened by the provincial government to deliberate on the deteriorating law and order situation and devise strategies to counter militancy.
Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi attended the event on the government’s invitation, along with representatives from major political parties including the Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), and opposition leader from the PML-N, Ibadullah Khan.
Addressing the jirga, CM Sohail Afridi said, “Our struggle is for peace. Today’s jirga will help find a sustainable solution to the menace of terrorism. Peace will only prevail once terrorism is eradicated.”
He emphasised the need for a long-term policy to combat terrorism, saying, “We must step out of closed rooms and make collective decisions with political leaders. Everyone has made sacrifices. Our NFC share amounts to Rs400 billion, yet we are not receiving it. If even one percent is withheld due to terrorism, no one has the right to question us.”
The chief minister further stated, “Politics may differ, but peace is our common goal. When a bomb explodes, it doesn’t distinguish between PTI or PPP supporters. Every citizen, politician, and security personnel has sacrificed in this fight. We achieved peace in 2018, but terrorism is once again re-emerging.”
Commenting on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Afridi said, “We welcome peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan. War should always be the last option.”
He lamented that “some people feel uncomfortable when we talk about peace,” adding that past decisions made in isolation failed to end terrorism. “A joint policy should be formulated with input from politicians, security forces, and all stakeholders. If everyone owns that policy, it will bring lasting peace to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he concluded.
