PM Shehbaz Extends Olive Branch to KP’s New Chief Minister Amid Strained Centre-Province Relations
Islamabad – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached out to newly-elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday, pledging the federal government’s willingness to collaborate with the PTI-led provincial administration “in the interest of Pakistan.”
The conversation marked the first direct contact between the premier and CM Afridi since the latter’s election, which took place amid ongoing political friction between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which controls the KP province.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz congratulated Afridi on assuming office and stressed the need for “joint efforts for the country’s progress.” Afridi, in turn, expressed gratitude and underscored the significance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — home to nearly 45 million people — in shaping Pakistan’s future.
Afridi Requests Permission to Meet PTI Founder
Speaking to journalists in Rawalpindi, Chief Minister Afridi revealed that he had formally written to the federal and Punjab governments seeking permission to meet the PTI founder, who is currently detained in Adiala Jail.
“The prime minister assured me he would review the matter and inform me soon,” Afridi stated, adding that his government would pursue “only constitutional and lawful means” to secure the meeting.
Dismissing criticism that PTI thrives on agitation, the chief minister asserted that his party believes in peaceful and legal political expression. “When justice is delayed or denied, peaceful protest remains our constitutional right,” he remarked.
Pledge for Unity and Governance
Afridi, one of PTI’s youngest and most ideologically driven leaders, hails from Bara tehsil in Khyber district and previously served as provincial minister for higher education. He reiterated his loyalty to the nation above all else, declaring, “Quaid-e-Azam founded this nation — Pakistan comes first, everything else follows.”
He also said his provincial cabinet would be formed after consultation with the PTI founder, highlighting his commitment to party leadership while emphasizing governance and stability for the province.
Confrontational Remarks Spark Federal Criticism
In his maiden address to the KP Assembly, Afridi described himself as a “champion of confrontational politics,” signaling a continuation of his predecessor’s stance on the PTI founder’s incarceration. He warned that if the jailed leader were moved without consultation with family or party representatives, PTI would “paralyse the entire country” in protest.
The chief minister also urged the federal government to reconsider its Afghan policy, citing the resurgence of terrorism in KP — a statement that drew a sharp reaction from Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah.
Speaking on Geo News’ Capital Talk, Sanaullah said Afridi’s remarks were “contrary to the Constitution and law,” stressing that while provinces enjoy autonomy under the 18th Amendment, “they cannot act in defiance of the federation.”
He added that if the new CM pursued a confrontational path, “it would be difficult for him to operate within the bounds of the Constitution as head of a provincial government.”
A Test for Cooperation
The exchange between Islamabad and Peshawar comes at a critical time, as Pakistan faces economic challenges and security concerns in its northwestern regions. Analysts suggest that how both governments manage their relationship in the coming months will determine whether the federation and KP can work together for national stability or descend into renewed political confrontation.
