PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan on Tuesday rejected reports claiming that PTI lawmakers had formed a group against KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, calling the reports “false, fabricated and baseless”.
The clarification came after media reports alleged that nearly 50 PTI MPAs had joined hands against the chief minister due to dissatisfaction over his performance. The reports further claimed that the emerging differences within the party could affect the smooth passage of the upcoming provincial budget. It was also suggested that CM Afridi had recently met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to seek his support in this regard.
Responding to the claims in a statement shared on his X account, Shafi Jan strongly denied the reports and said that all members of the KP Assembly remained united under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. He said those attempting to create divisions among PTI lawmakers had failed in their efforts.
Jan maintained that a coordinated campaign of “baseless propaganda” had been launched against the chief minister since he assumed office. He added that CM Afridi continued to enjoy the full confidence of PTI founder Imran Khan, stressing that the former premier’s decisions within the party were considered final.
Referring to the recent meeting between CM Afridi and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the provincial minister clarified that the discussion revolved around the death of cleric Maulana Muhammad Idrees and the prevailing law and order situation in the province, dismissing suggestions that the meeting was linked to political support for the budget.
The information minister further said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the only province in the country where “true democratic values” were being promoted. According to him, CM Afridi had also brought opposition parties together in the larger public interest while continuing regular consultations on major development projects aimed at public welfare.
Shafi Jan advised those spreading what he termed “fake news” to wait for the presentation of the provincial budget, asserting that the budget would not only pass without any obstacles but would also prove to be a step towards development and prosperity in the province.
He added that despite limited financial resources, the KP government had achieved significant progress in development projects, maintenance of law and order, and initiatives aimed at serving the public interest.