Afridi offers olive branch with a sting

    Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday offered the federal government a fresh opportunity for dialogue ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) October 4 long march, saying his party had never refused negotiations even as preparations for the mobilisation remained complete. Speaking to senior journalists, Afridi said there were still seven days before the march and urged the federal government to use the time for talks. He questioned why negotiations could not begin immediately if dialogue would eventually be required after the protest as well. The chief minister said PTI had been ready to talk the previous day and remained ready to talk now, adding that the party had never backed away from negotiations. However, he alleged that the rulers were not allowing an understanding to be reached between PTI and the establishment. His offer of dialogue comes after PTI postponed the planned September 27 mobilisation to October 4 following a political committee decision. Afridi said PTI had approached every relevant institution for the past nine months but had received no response, forcing it, according to him, to announce the September 27 protest call. He again referred to court orders concerning meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan, saying orders allowing 18 people to meet him every week had not been implemented. The chief minister said there was still time to resolve the matter before the march and urged the government to use the remaining days for negotiations. He also slammed the federal government's handling of K-P, alleging that it had closed routes into the province and interfered in its affairs. Afridi said PTI had been labelled "wild" and "terrorist", referring to comments by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar calling the provincial government the TTP's "B-team" and the Afghan Taliban's "C-team". Tarar made those allegations on Friday while accusing the K-P government of failing to maintain law and order and of facilitating terrorist elements. The chief minister said such remarks were part of a pre-planned narrative and claimed that the extensive preparations being made against the march reflected opposition to PTI among sections of the public.   'Political movement, not armed group' Afridi said PTI would proceed with the march on October 4 and would return only after achieving "real freedom", adding that the party was not an armed group but a political movement. He reiterated that PTI had never rejected negotiations and said the participation of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in any dialogue would be welcomed. Afridi said the party had discussed the September 27 date with TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai and that preparations for the march were complete, adding that the delay was a political strategy. He also slammed the atmosphere inside the provincial civil secretariat and other institutions, saying action would be taken against those who spread fear and rumours. Afridi said he had himself visited the mosque in question and offered Friday prayers. He also referred to containers that had been brought into the Red Zone and later removed, while maintaining that preparations for the October 4 march had been completed. The chief minister alleged that interference in the provincial government's work was continuing. Referring to the Shakil Khan matter, he claimed a deputy commissioner had been forced to register a first information report. He questioned how government employees could stand up to "uncontrolled elements", while praising the assistant commissioner of Kohat for adopting a policy of restraint. He also alleged that the country's debt had risen from Rs43 trillion to Rs97 trillion. The chief minister said PTI would have to hold the march under any circumstances and that preparations were complete. He warned that if a "misadventure" occurred, the party could come out even before October 4. Afridi alleged that a one-man policy was being pursued in the country, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi acting as its representative. He said that, for him, the government itself was of little consequence and that he considered himself a soldier of Imran Khan. Afridi also warned that imposing governor's rule in K-P or disqualifying him would provoke an unprecedented public reaction, saying neither option was something the government would be able to afford. He said that if he ceased to be chief minister, the decision on his replacement would rest with Imran Khan.