By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
BANNU: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi led a Street Movement rally in Bannu on Sunday as part of preparations for the September 27 long march, calling for peace, rule of law, justice and what he described as “true freedom”.
Addressing the rally, Afridi thanked the people of Bannu for attending in large numbers despite the intense heat. He said the enthusiasm shown by the people should be maintained as September 27 would be a decisive day for the movement.
PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan, provincial ministers Shafi Jan and Meena Khan Afridi, MNA Shahid Khattak and other party leaders also attended the rally.
Afridi said September 27 would be important for changing the country’s “destiny and history”. He urged people to join the march for themselves and future generations.
Speaking about the deteriorating law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he claimed that peace had prevailed in the province until 2022 but had worsened afterwards. He blamed the current government and those responsible for bringing it to power for the deterioration.
The chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been treated as a “laboratory” for two decades. He said his government would resist decisions it believed were harmful to the province and its people.
Afridi said thousands of people in the province had sacrificed their lives for peace. He alleged that decisions taken behind closed doors had weakened the security situation. He stressed that peace was necessary for economic development and prosperity and said the provincial government was taking steps within its priorities to improve security.
He also praised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for remaining on the frontline in the fight for peace. He said the government was providing the force with financial and logistical support. According to Afridi, Rs191bn had been allocated for the police, while additional funds were being spent on infrastructure, modern equipment and training.
The chief minister also criticised the country’s political and judicial situation. He alleged that the courts were being undermined and that PTI founder Imran Khan was being kept in prison unjustly. He questioned the rights of ordinary citizens under such circumstances.
Afridi urged people to participate in the September 27 march if they wanted equal application of law and justice. Referring to Imran Khan, he said the former prime minister had restored peace and national dignity and was facing imprisonment for the sake of the country’s future.
He pledged to lead the campaign for Khan’s release and for what he described as the protection of constitutional rights and supremacy of the law.
Afridi also called for greater judicial and media freedom. Referring to slain journalist Arshad Sharif, he said those who spoke the truth had been silenced and paid tribute to journalists who continued to speak out for truth and justice.
Addressing young people, he urged them to decide whether they wanted to live under what he called “slavery” or enjoy freedom. He called on them to stand with Imran Khan and play a role in determining the country’s future.
He urged participants to remain focused on their objectives and continue preparations for the September 27 march. He said unity and solidarity would be essential to the movement and claimed that public enthusiasm would play an important role in shaping the country’s future.
