K-P to participate in NFC session despite reservations: CM Afridi | The Express Tribune

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government will participate in the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting on December 4, asserting that the province will “fight its case and that of its people in the best possible manner.”

The 11th NFC was constituted on August 22 this year to finalise a new award for the distribution of federal divisible resources between the centre and the provinces. Its first session, scheduled for August 27, was postponed multiple times—initially to August 29, then November 17 and 18—due to unspecified reasons and requests from the Sindh government and the Prime Minister’s Office.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Afridi stated that the federal government owes K-P Rs1.3 trillion under the NFC while highlighting that although the former tribal districts were merged administratively with the province in 2018, their financial integration had not yet been completed.

“The NFC share for merged districts has not been released to K-P since 2018,” he said, calling the delay a “constitutional violation.”

Afridi urged the federal government to consider KP’s proposals for lasting peace, warning that “decisions made behind closed doors” negatively affect the province. He added that if the centre adopts the province’s recommendations, the KP government would take responsibility for implementing them and maintaining law and order, emphasising that all stakeholders must be included in decisions regarding peace.

The chief minister alleged that “those holding real power” have sought to push PTI toward confrontation, but maintained that the party would remain peaceful while “not hesitating to make sacrifices.”

He claimed peaceful protesters had been targeted with gunfire and alleged that PTI founder Imran Khan was being held in solitary confinement, with family members—including his sisters—denied visitation.

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Afridi said PTI parliamentarians would stage a peaceful protest outside the Islamabad High Court on Tuesday and accompany Khan’s sisters to Adiala Jail, with the provincial government following party leadership directives. He added that he had personally attempted to visit Khan on November 27 after reports about his health but was denied permission, despite staging an overnight sit-in outside the prison.

CM Afridi alleged that while some chief ministers enjoy privileges such as use of PAF aircraft, his own name had been placed on a passport control list.

Responding to questions, Afridi said no part of K-P was under militant control, though he claimed—without naming anyone—that “the entire country is under the control of one person.”

He also clarified that his family owns land in the Tirah Valley, while he personally owns no property.

Dismissing a recent documentary about him as a distraction, Afridi added, “The public knows everything. They know who is lying. We want everyone to focus on their responsibilities—only then will the country progress.”

PTI warns of protest outside Adiala Jail

Special Assistant to K-P CM on Information, Shafee Jan, has warned of a protest outside Adiala Jail if permission is not granted to meet PTI founder.

Addressing the media, Jan said that all members of the National and Provincial Assemblies plan to approach the High Court on Tuesday. “We will visit Adiala Jail with Imran Khan’s family. If we are denied a meeting with his sisters, a sit-in and protest will follow,” he stated.

He highlighted that Khan has not been allowed family visits since November 4, raising concerns about his health. Shafee Jan criticized the ruling PML-N, claiming that while its leaders used to meet their “criminal” leader in London and consult with the cabinet during Nawaz Sharif’s stay abroad, they now fear Khan’s statements and images.

Read: K-P CM Afridi directs probe into NA-18 Haripur by-poll

“Imran Khan remains the country’s most popular political leader, and attempts are being made to silence him. The people elected PTI representatives on the promise of his release, and the public’s sole question is: when will Imran Khan be freed?” he added.

Jan also accused the federal government of neglecting funds for merged districts and police capacity building, stating that over Rs3 trillion is due under NFC, NHP, and oil and gas reserves. He emphasized that on December 4, the province will present a strong case at the NFC meeting.