By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi said on Monday that the Sindh government had failed to uphold the honor of the ajrak and topi and criticized its treatment of what he described as its “guests”.
Addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association in Karachi on Monday, the chief minister thanked SHCBA members for what he called their warm welcome and hospitality. He said people from across Pakistan, including Pashtuns, Kashmiris and Baloch, representing different schools of thought, were present at the gathering.
In contrast, he said the conduct of the Sindh government towards him and his delegation stood in sharp contrast to the reception given by the public. He accused the provincial administration of having “desecrated” the honor of the Sindhi ajrak and topi. “I think every Sindhi will fully condemn this,” he said, drawing loud support from the audience.
The KP chief minister also criticized what he described as the misuse of the constitution and the law, warning that such practices were damaging not only state institutions but the country as a whole. “On one hand, they are selling our national assets. They auctioned PIA on OLX,” he said, referring to the recent privatization process of the national airline. “But here, they have sold justice.”
Afridi said that despite growing frustration, the public still looked towards the judiciary for justice and support. He claimed that although three judges in Islamabad had ordered that he be allowed to meet the jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, the order was ignored by jail authorities.
“We are accused of protest politics,” he said. “But our constitution allows this, and we will continue to protest.” He alleged that the judiciary was not cooperating with his party and said his repeated attempts to contact the chief justice had gone unanswered. “We are being pushed against the wall, so protest is the only option left,” he said.
Afridi said he would always stand with those who supported the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law. “We have to fight for our rights ourselves,” he said. “Freedom is not served on a plate. If we do not raise our voice, more pressure will be put on us.”
He also claimed that the passport of a provincial chief minister had been blocked, calling it discrimination against an entire province. However, he said that his party leader, Imran Khan, had always advocated peaceful struggle.
Turning to the economy, Afridi said the country was facing severe difficulties, with rising unemployment and people leaving Pakistan in large numbers. He said unemployment had reached 7.1 per cent and accused ruling elites of investing abroad while ordinary citizens suffered. “These people will be held accountable,” he said. “One day, it will happen.”
The chief minister told the audience that he had come to Karachi on the instructions of his party leader to mobilize a street movement and expressed hope for their full support. Thanking the gathering, he said he hoped that the rule of law would one day prevail in Pakistan.
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