The formation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government faces a potential stalemate as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared on Tuesday that the provincial cabinet will remain deliberately limited if Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is denied a meeting with the party’s founder, Imran Khan.
The ultimatum was delivered after police stopped the PTI chairman at the Dahgal checkpoint while he was en route to Adiala Jail. ‘If the Chief Minister is prevented from meeting the founder chairman, we will form a short cabinet, as the province cannot be left without one entirely,’ Barrister Gohar told the media, adding that any subsequent expansion would depend on directives from the incarcerated leader.
He defended the Chief Minister’s request as completely legitimate, drawing parallels to previous governments. He noted that in the past, prominent figures were permitted to meet with Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari during their detentions. Barrister Gohar expressed hope that the High Court would soon approve the meeting.
Until then, he reiterated that while the province cannot remain without a functioning administration, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would have complete authority to decide on the composition of the initial, restricted cabinet.
On national security, the PTI chairman affirmed the party’s firm opposition to all forms of terrorism and its backing for the full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP). ‘There should be no politics on a sensitive issue like terrorism,’ he remarked, underscoring that NAP clearly mandates strengthening provincial capacity to counter such threats.
Regarding Afghan refugees, Barrister Gohar advocated for a defined timeframe for their repatriation, stressing that they must not be sent back in a humiliating manner. ‘We want them to return home safely and not become a threat to Pakistan in the future,’ he added, asserting that no country’s territory, including Afghanistan’s, should be used against Pakistan.
Addressing other matters, he clarified that CM Afridi’s non-participation in a meeting with the Prime Minister should not be transformed into an unnecessary controversy. In response to a query, he confirmed some vehicles previously used by the United Nations were provided to the KP government, stating it is the federal government’s obligation to ensure the provincial administration is properly equipped.
Barrister Gohar also disclosed that, following Imran Khan’s instructions, a formal request with 74 lawmaker signatures has been submitted to nominate Mahmood Khan Achakzai as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
Concerning the NA-18 Haripur by-election, he confirmed the party was participating with Imran Khan’s consent and that Omar Ayub’s wife had already submitted her nomination papers.
Reflecting on the Supreme Court Bar Association elections, the PTI chairman described the party’s 400-vote loss as a disappointing result that would be taken seriously.