Threat alert triggers K-P secretariat evacuation

Panic and chaos gripped the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Civil Secretariat on Friday after security alerts of a possible drone or suicide attack targeting government offices or the mosque inside the complex during Friday prayers. Officials and staff were first ordered to remain confined to their rooms and offices, only to be instructed moments later to evacuate the premises immediately. Most employees abandoned their cars and motorcycles and fled on foot to safer locations as security forces sealed off the entire secretariat and surrounding areas. While the scramble was still underway, similar evacuation orders were issued for staff at the FATA Secretariat and adjoining offices on Warsak Road as a precaution against any potential terrorist attack. The sudden alerts triggered a full security lockdown across key government installations in Peshawar, with police and other law-enforcement agencies deploying additional personnel to secure the perimeters and screen the area. To restore calm and normalise the situation, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi arrived at the Civil Secretariat without delay. Accompanied by the Chief Secretary, the Chief Minister offered Friday prayers at the Civil Secretariat mosque. His presence at the site during a period of heightened alert was widely seen as a deliberate show of resolve. After the prayers, the Chief Minister received a detailed briefing on the overall security situation in the province at the Chief Secretary's office. He issued necessary directions to the relevant authorities to maintain heightened vigilance and ensure the safety of government buildings, mosques and public spaces. Security sources said today's threat specifically targeted government installations, particularly congregational mosques where large numbers of people gather for Friday prayers. The Chief Minister's decision to offer prayers at the Civil Secretariat mosque sent a clear message of the government's determination to confront terrorism and its refusal to bow to efforts aimed at spreading fear among officials and the public. Chief Minister Afridi stated: "Terrorists cannot intimidate us. The people and the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will never surrender to terrorism. We will confront terrorism with full force on every front, and there will be no compromise on the protection of the lives and property of the people." Officials later confirmed that the immediate threat had been contained and normal operations at the secretariats were gradually restored. However, security arrangements around key government buildings in Peshawar remained tightened for the rest of the day as a precautionary measure. The episode underscored the persistent challenges posed by militant threats in the province and the administration's stated commitment to maintain public confidence through visible leadership in the face of such alerts.