Chief Minister also expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on journalists
DLP Report
ISLAMABAD
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday stated that military operations are not a solution to the province’s challenges, emphasizing that lasting peace can only be achieved through constitutional measures, public consensus, and the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
Referring to a decision of the grand peace Jirga, Afridi reiterated that all political and religious parties, as well as diverse schools of thought, were united in rejecting military action as a means of resolving conflicts in KP.
Addressing the Islamabad Bar Council, CM Afridi emphasized that the primary responsibility of the state was the safety and security of its people, and the provincial government would not shy away from fulfilling this duty.
During his address, the Chief Minister highlighted the ongoing critical phase the country was facing, where collective resistance was necessary to safeguard the supremacy of the Constitution, uphold the independence of the judiciary, and ensure the freedom of the media.
He praised the legal community for its consistent stand against dictatorship and oppression, commending figures like Iman Mazari for her bravery in these challenging times.
The Chief Minister also expressed deep concern over the increasing attacks on journalists, both in Pakistan and abroad, and criticized the ongoing cases, character assassinations, and assaults on media figures like Dr. Moeed Pirzada and Sabir Shakir.
He pointed out that these actions were direct attacks on the freedom of expression and warned that if society remains silent now, everyone would eventually bear the consequences of this unchecked oppression.
Afridi also condemned the politically motivated targeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, stating that the party had endured three years of relentless political vendettas.
He called the ongoing detention of Imran Khan and the cases against him, including the Toshakhana and Iddat cases, as examples of political revenge that undermine the dignity of the judiciary and the state.
“Imran Khan’s struggle,” Afridi said, “is not just for himself but for the entire nation, its democracy, constitution, law, independent judiciary, and transparent justice.”
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the state of Pakistan’s governance, stating that if the current corrupt system was not changed, the country was heading towards destruction.
He called upon the legal community to play a pivotal role in restoring the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, stressing that future generations would hold today’s leaders accountable for their actions, or inactions.
