DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet on Thursday condemned what it described as the “mistreatment” of Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, provincial lawmakers and other elected representatives in Islamabad, terming the actions of the federal government contrary to democratic norms and national cohesion.
Chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, the chief minister welcomed newly inducted ministers, advisers and special assistants, and extended his best wishes to them for their future responsibilities.
According to an official statement, the cabinet expressed concern over the treatment of members of the provincial government during their recent visit to Islamabad and said such actions promoted division and intolerance rather than democratic engagement.
Addressing the meeting, Mr Afridi said the delegation had travelled to the federal capital to express solidarity with former prime minister Imran Khan and raise concerns regarding his health and access to medical treatment. He claimed that before the delegation could reach Islamabad, major highways and connecting roads had been blocked by the administration.
The cabinet unanimously demanded that Mr Khan be provided medical treatment at a state-of-the-art hospital under the supervision of his personal physicians and in the presence of his family, describing this as a constitutional and legal right rather than a political concession.
The chief minister said that under the Constitution, prison rules and relevant laws, every prisoner was entitled to proper medical care and treatment of choice.
Referring to recent political developments, Mr Afridi alleged that elected representatives and citizens were increasingly facing the use of force for raising their voices. He said three members of his delegation had sustained injuries during the recent incidents and recalled the events of Nov 26, arguing that the use of force against political workers and lawmakers was inconsistent with democratic values and constitutional freedoms.
He warned that the continuation of such practices would set a dangerous precedent for democratic politics in the country and stressed that political disagreements should be resolved through dialogue rather than coercion.
The cabinet also expressed concern over the health of Bushra Bibi, citing reports regarding her eyesight and overall wellbeing. Mr Afridi said that despite reports of medical treatment, sufficient details about her condition had not been made public.
Describing her as a non-political individual, he said her continued incarceration was unjustified and aimed at exerting pressure on Mr Khan.
The cabinet called upon the judiciary and national as well as international human rights organisations to ensure protection of Mr Khan’s legal and constitutional rights.
Turning to governance matters, the chief minister said a “deliberate campaign” was underway to create a false impression of corruption against the provincial government.
He said anyone possessing credible evidence of corruption should present it before the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, where it would be examined impartially and acted upon in accordance with the law.
