Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi visited District Swat where he met the families of those who embraced martyrdom in recent blast, offered Fateha for the departed souls, and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Paying tribute to the martyrs, the Chief Minister said that those who sacrificed their lives for the peace and security of the province were a source of pride for the entire nation and that their sacrifices would always be remembered. During his visit, the Chief Minister also visited Saidu Teaching Hospital, where he inquired after police personnel and civilians injured in the blast. He prayed for their swift recovery and directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all injured persons receive the highest standard of medical care without any delay or negligence.
The Chief Minister later chaired a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in Swat. The meeting was briefed in detail on recent blast , the prevailing security situation , and the ongoing operations being undertaken in response. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens remains the foremost responsibility of the government and made it clear that no negligence or complacency in this regard would be tolerated. He directed the relevant institutions to deploy all available resources to strengthen security, intensify operations against terrorist elements, and enhance measures for the protection of the public. Speaking to media representatives during the visit, the Chief Minister paid tribute to the people of Malakand Division, saying he saluted the courage and resolve of its people for rejecting the federal government’s flawed policy of resettling terrorists. He regretted that institutions primarily responsible for maintaining national security had become preoccupied with political engineering, postings and transfers, despite these not being part of their constitutional responsibilities. He said this state of affairs had become one of the principal factors contributing to the deteriorating security situation in the province. The Chief Minister said that since assuming office, his government has consistently strengthened the operational capacity of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) by providing modern weaponry and other critical resources, emphasising that these institutions remain at the forefront of efforts to establish and maintain peace in the province. He noted that more than Rs35 billion had already been provided to enhance the capacity and infrastructure of the Police and CTD, while an additional Rs20 billion had been earmarked for the two institutions in the current provincial budget. He reaffirmed that the provincial government remains fully committed to restoring lasting peace, stressing that sustainable development cannot be achieved without security. The Chief Minister further stated that since declaring the 2026-27 fiscal year as the “Year of Peace, Development and Prosperity”, individuals who, should have been subjected to law enforcement action were instead being deliberately allowed to remain at large. Referring to recent incident in Swat, concerns regarding Buner, and the incident in Hangu, he maintained that these developments reflected serious lapses. He added that despite repeated requests by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police for assistance from the relevant institutions, no timely support had been forthcoming.
Emphasizing his government’s unwavering commitment to public safety, the Chief Minister said that both the police and the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were his own, and that he would go to every extent necessary to safeguard the lives of the province’s citizens. He added that he would not hesitate to oppose any policy that, undermined that objective. He expressed confidence that peace would ultimately be restored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the combined resolve of the police and the people. He further stated that his government, having been elected through the public mandate, would continue to place the interests of the people above all else. The Chief Minister also added that certain quarters, whose role did not include political interference, were preventing both the civil administration and the police from performing their professional responsibilities independently. Responding to a separate question, the Chief Minister said that peace is the most fundamental prerequisite for progress and paid tribute to the extraordinary sacrifices rendered by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police over the past twenty-two years in the fight against terrorism. While acknowledging the force’s professionalism, capability and courage, he argued that key security policies were formulated behind closed doors, whereas their consequences were borne by the people and the police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He maintained that although the police continued to confront terrorism with determination, requests for operational support from the relevant institutions were often neither treated with the required seriousness nor responded to in a timely manner. He cautioned that the security situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saeed, Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah, the Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and other senior officials accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit.
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