PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that any attempt to bring down the democratic government would face strong resistance from the youth of the province.
Addressing a meeting on the law and order situation in Peshawar, Afridi said that since taking oath, he had not issued any improper orders to police officers, nor directed them to target anyone for political or personal revenge. He also said he had not instructed police to register false FIRs.
The chief minister said the provincial government would take measures if any federal institution attempted to use the police for political victimisation.
Afridi said his party was not planning any armed struggle or assault, but would hold peaceful protests. He questioned attempts to stop peaceful demonstrations, saying that the Constitution provides the right to peaceful assembly.
Speaking at the inauguration of an underpass in Peshawar, Afridi said the leader who speaks for the country and its people was currently in jail. He said that if the country was to witness unity and peace, PTI founder Imran Khan should be released and restored as prime minister.
“I am a player of Imran Khan and will not play a fixed match,” Afridi said, adding that people must stand up for their rights.
The chief minister said his government had come to power through a public mandate and warned that if an attempt was made to topple the democratic government, the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would resist strongly.
Referring to political activity, Afridi said, “This time it is a Test match; first we will play carefully, then we will hit sixes.”
He also criticised restrictions on political gatherings, saying that when a federal minister visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no roads were blocked, whereas roads were closed when he travelled to Punjab.
Afridi challenged other political parties to hold their rallies at a location of their choice, saying he would resign if their gathering attracted more people than his party’s rally.