Sohail Afridi Supported Emergency in 12 KP Districts, Says Mohsin Naqvi

ISLAMABAD: (Staff Reporter) – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi supported the imposition of an emergency in 12 districts of the province during their meetings, as the security situation continues to deteriorate.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Atta Tarar, Naqvi said the situation in 12 districts of KP was extremely serious, with casualties increasing each passing day.

He said his discussions with Sohail Afridi focused on counterterrorism rather than political matters. According to Naqvi, the chief minister had supported the imposition of an emergency in the 12 districts during their meetings.

Naqvi added that both sides had also agreed to strengthen police capabilities in five districts. He said the federal government had assured the provincial administration that it would provide whatever financial resources were required to improve law enforcement and combat terrorism.

The interior minister said he had personally remained in contact with the KP government for a month in an effort to reach an agreement and unite all political stakeholders against terrorism.

He explained that meetings had been scheduled to persuade the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to postpone its sit-in ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s departure for New York. According to Naqvi, efforts were made to address the party’s demands before the planned long march.

However, he said the situation became complicated after a new draft was presented despite an earlier draft having been finalised.

Naqvi said he remained in contact with PTI leaders until 11:45pm on the previous night. He added that the final attempt to contact the opposition yielded no response.

The interior minister also said that efforts to engage Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had failed to produce any outcome.

Naqvi reiterated that the government’s primary objective in its discussions with the opposition had been to develop a united strategy against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.