Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has demanded that the federal government immediately release Rs550 billion in pending dues for the tribal districts and Rs2,200 billion in net hydropower arrears, warning that continued neglect could have “dangerous consequences.”
Addressing a grand peace jirga in Bara on Saturday, Afridi urged Islamabad to convene the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting without delay, declaring that the province was “not asking for charity but its rightful share.”
The chief minister announced that a series of peace jirgas would be held across all merged districts, culminating in a Loya Jirga, which would formulate a collective strategy for peace and development. He warned that failure to implement the jirga’s declaration would have serious repercussions.
“No new military operations will be permitted in the tribal districts,” Afridi said, adding that all key decisions would be taken in consultation with elected representatives and tribal elders, “not behind closed doors.”
He accused decision-makers of sacrificing innocent tribesmen “for dollars” and vowed that there would be accountability if any civilian life was lost. “Under the name of operations, innocent tribesmen are being martyred. Tribesmen cannot be sacrificed for dollars any longer,” he said.
Afridi praised the tribal people’s sacrifices for Pakistan’s survival and security, saying the promises made at the time of the merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must now be honoured. “The tribal people have given countless sacrifices for Pakistan’s existence and safety. It is time the commitments made to them are fulfilled,” he said.
The jirga drew thousands of participants, including MNA Iqbal Afridi, MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi, Senators Mirza Muhammad Afridi and Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Khan Wali (Jamaat-e-Islami), Asghar Khan (PML-N), Walat Khan (PPP), and tribal elders such as Malik Waris and Khan Marjan Wazir. JUI-F Bara president Masqeem also attended.
Recalling the post-9/11 period, Afridi said the tribal regions were dragged into “someone else’s war,” devastating communities. “We made every sacrifice for Pakistan, but we will not offer any more,” he stated.
The chief minister said the people of Khyber had defended Pakistan’s borders since independence. “No outsider ever ruled Khyber. Accepting Pakistan was our own decision. We were, are, and will remain Pakistanis,” he added.
Afridi was warmly received on arrival, with the Shalobar Qaumi Council erecting a grand welcome gate at Charai Sar, where the newly elected chief minister was showered with rose petals.
