Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday said the PTI provincial government would participate in the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting on December 4 and “fight for our province and its people” in the best possible way.
The eleventh NFC was constituted on August 22 to finalize a new allocation to share divisible federal resources between the Center and the provinces.
The first meeting was originally scheduled for August 27, but was later delayed to August 29 for unspecified reasons. This was also postponed at the request of the Sindh government due to flood-related commitments. The session was subsequently rescheduled for November 17, then for November 18, and again postponed at the wish of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier this week, CM Afridi said the federal government still owed the province Rs 1.3 trillion under the NFC framework.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar today, the CM said the erstwhile tribal areas were administratively merged with KP in 2018, but were yet to be financially integrated. The portion of NFC corresponding to the merged districts has not been paid to KP since 2018, he added, calling it a “constitutional violation.”
He further said that the federal government should consider the provincial government’s suggestions to maintain lasting peace in the province, adding that “decisions taken behind closed doors” negatively affected KP.
“If the federal government implements our suggestions, it will be our responsibility to carry out the decisions and maintain law and order,” CM Afridi said.
“The provincial government wants all stakeholders involved in any decision regarding peace in the province.”
The prime minister alleged that the “powers that be” had always conspired to push the PTI into conflict, but stressed that the party would remain peaceful, adding that it would “never hesitate to offer sacrifices.”
“Persistent efforts have been made to isolate the PTI and peaceful protesters have been shot at,” CM Afridi said, claiming that PTI founder Imran Khan was isolated and all visitors, including his sisters, were denied a meeting with the jailed former prime minister.
The prime minister said the PTI had decided that all parliamentarians would protest peacefully in front of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday. They would also accompany Imran’s sisters to Adiala jail and the provincial government would follow the instructions issued by the party leadership.
“All parliamentarians, including provincial and national assembly members, along with senators, will protest in front of the IHC over the delay in hearing the case. Then they will all proceed towards Adiala, accompanying Imran Khan’s sisters,” CM Afridi told reporters.
The CM said that after international media reports about the PTI founder’s health, he went to Adiala jail to meet Imran on November 27, but was denied a hearing even after spending the entire night outside the jail in a sit-in protest.
He said he decided to hold a sit-in in front of Adiala jail because his party was being mistreated. He also claimed that while some chief ministers were “facilitated and offered Pakistan Air Force planes”, his name was added to the passport control list.
Responding to questions, the prime minister said that “no part of the KP is under the control of militants.” However, without naming anyone, CM Afridi alleged that “the entire country is controlled by one person.”
While answering another question, the prime minister said his family owned property in Tirah, but denied owning any, adding that a recent documentary against him was an attempt to divert public attention, but people never believed those who shared the documentary.
“People know everything. They know who is lying and we want them to do their job and only then the country will develop,” the prime minister said.
