‘An operation will not succeed unless the public stands behind you’, says Junaid Khan
Sohail Afridi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, speaking at a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rally in Karak on Sunday, highlighted pending federal funds for the tribal districts, saying, “For the administration of tribal areas, we promised 100 billion from the tribal districts. The federal government owes 550 billion to these areas”.
Afridi also stressed securing additional federal funds and providing scholarships for local students, while emphasising that peace and good governance remain the government’s primary focus.
He added that the province’s share was being withheld, noting, “They are withholding our share of 14.6 to 19.4 billion.” Afridi further stated, “A remaining 2,200 million from the NFC is due from the federal government, and we will secure it”.
The chief minister said the region’s history would change and promised to deliver on development and governance. He highlighted ongoing projects, including the Peshawar‑Dera Ismail Khan motorway and local pipeline schemes, and pledged to equip the police with modern weapons and bulletproof vehicles.
“Good governance is essential. A package for the four regions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will be announced soon,” he added.
PTI leadership addresses rally
PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan and party activist Meena Khan also addressed the rally. Junaid Akbar praised the party leadership and thanked residents for their support.
He defended the party founder’s decisions, condemned previous violence against civilians, including children on 26 November, and vowed the movement would continue peacefully. “Do as much injustice as you like — we will be vindicated,” he said.
Read: Grand jirga rejects operations, calls for dialogue and peace
He stressed that public support was crucial for any operation to succeed and called for dialogue and reconciliation that serves Pakistan’s interests. “An operation will not succeed unless the public stands behind you,” he warned.
The November 26 D-Chowk protest was part of a nationwide call by PTI founder Imran Khan demanding the restoration of the party’s electoral mandate, the release of imprisoned party members, and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he claimed had empowered a “dictatorial regime.” Supporters from across Pakistan gathered in Islamabad, where the state rejected negotiations and an operation ended the protest.
Meena Khan condemned the November 26 violence, describing the protest for the founder’s release as peaceful. She called for the removal of corruption and stressed that the system must change before the founder could be freed. “Now is the chance for Sohail Afridi to change this system. We will breathe easy once the founder is freed”.
The rallies reflect PTI’s continued mobilisation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the face of continuous security operations and ongoing debates over governance and accountability in the province.
Read more: Gunmen abduct 18 labourers in Khuzdar
Grand Jirga calls for dialogue in tribal districts
The Karak rally followed the Aman Jirga (peace assembly) held in Peshawar on Saturday. The jirga brought together elders from Bajaur, Khyber, and Waziristan, alongside PTI workers and community leaders carrying white flags inscribed with the message ‘Only Peace’.
The gathering echoed a unified call for stability through consultation and urged the federal government to respect the will of the people of the merged districts.
Tribal elders and PTI members of the National Assembly opposed any new military operation in the tribal districts, instead advocating dialogue, justice, and development to ensure lasting peace.
Afridi urged the federal government to take both the provincial government and tribal representatives into confidence before making decisions regarding the merged districts, warning, “This time, we will not be made scapegoats”.
Speaking at the jirga, tribal elder Malik Khan Marjan said terrorism could only be defeated through dialogue rather than military action. “All tribes stand with the chief minister. Decisions regarding the tribal areas will be made by the tribal jirga itself,” he said, adding that elders were ready to engage with the provincial and federal governments, as well as the armed forces, under Afridi’s leadership.
MPA Abdul Ghani said Afridi’s appointment marked a moment of pride for the region. “After 77 years, a tribal son has once again donned the turban of the chief minister,” he said, calling it a symbolic return of tribal representation.
