Afridi says police must fight terrorism

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday declared that the province's police and people have waged a continuous war against terrorism for the past 22 years, and that their unmatched sacrifices have secured peace even in other parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Addressing a meeting on law and order, Afridi said the provincial government has provided the police force with unprecedented financial resources, modern equipment and an enhanced martyrs' package to enable effective action against terrorists. He stressed that the primary duty of the police remains the protection of the lives and property of the people, and that the force cannot be allowed to become entangled in political disputes or actions against any political party. Afridi recalled that his party had protested and raised its voice at every forum against the resettlement of terrorists. The chief minister expressed serious concern over extraordinary delays in the supply of equipment despite payments having already been made. He added that payments have also been made to the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation for a defensive system against jammers and drones. Afridi demanded that both NRTC and Heavy Industries Taxila immediately supply jammers, armoured vehicles and other essential equipment so that the police can effectively continue the fight against terrorism. Drawing a sharp contrast between federal and provincial priorities, the chief minister said that instead of eliminating terrorism, the fake government at the centre has made the elimination of Tehreek-e-Insaf and the subjugation of Imran Khan its priority. "Our interest is not to eliminate any political party; our priority is to deal with terrorism," he said. "If the police's interest also becomes the elimination of a political party, where will the people of K-P go? The police cannot be allowed to have their attention diverted from the war on terror towards anyone's political objectives." Afridi made clear that since taking the oath as chief executive on 15 October 2025, he has never issued any wrong order to any police officer, never directed political or personal victimisation, and never ordered the registration of a false FIR.