KP Chief Minister Urges Police to Focus on Counterterrorism
PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has urged the provincial police to remain focused on combating terrorism and protecting citizens instead of becoming involved in political disputes.
Speaking at a law and order meeting on Thursday, Afridi said the people and police of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had faced terrorism for more than two decades and made significant sacrifices in the fight against militancy.
The chief minister said the provincial government had allocated additional financial resources for the police, along with modern equipment and an improved compensation package for the families of police personnel killed in the line of duty.
Afridi stressed that the primary responsibility of the police was to protect the lives and property of citizens. He said the force should not be diverted from counterterrorism duties toward political matters.
He also expressed concern over delays in the delivery of security equipment despite payments having already been made.
According to the chief minister, funds had been paid to the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) for equipment designed to counter jammers and drones. He called for the immediate supply of jammers, armoured vehicles and other essential equipment by NRTC and Heavy Industries Taxila.
Afridi said his party had previously opposed the resettlement of militants and had raised the issue at various forums.
The chief minister also criticised what he described as a greater focus by the federal government on political matters rather than counterterrorism. He said his provincial government’s stated priority was to address terrorism rather than target any political party.
He questioned where citizens would turn if police attention was shifted away from security concerns toward political objectives.
Afridi further said that since taking oath as chief minister on October 15, 2025, he had not issued instructions for political or personal victimisation, ordered a false FIR, or given what he considered an inappropriate directive to a police officer.
