K-P CM dares Centre to 'try governor's rule'

PESHAWAR:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned the federal government against any attempt to impose governor's rule in the province, asserting that K-P was already under "Imran Khan's rule and needs no other".

Speaking to reporters in Hayatabad on Monday, Afridi said his government would not be cowed by federal manoeuvring and dared Islamabad to "show the courage" to take such a step.

"If they have the guts, then let them impose governor's rule … we are not afraid," he asserted, adding that those enforcing "closed-door policies" in the province should reconsider their approach, particularly given a worsening law-and-order environment.

He also alleged that the federal government owed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa more than Rs3 trillion in outstanding dues.

"Imagine what we could achieve if Islamabad simply cleared our arrears," the chief minister said, while accusing the Centre of Rs5.3 trillion in corruption without accountability.

"We are delivering and providing relief to people, yet fingers are still pointed at us," he added.

Earlier in the day, Afridi inaugurated the provincial government's new flagship welfare initiative, the Ehsaas Umeed Programme, at a ceremony held at the Special Education Complex in Hayatabad, where he was the chief guest. The initiative seeks to provide sustained financial assistance to persons with severe disabilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing the gathering, Afridi said the initiative reflected the compassion and vision of the PTI founding chairman Imran Khan.

"The sense of empathy and vision that Imran Khan has for marginalised and special segments of society is our path and our priority," he said.

He directed that all available Zakat funds be disbursed immediately to eligible recipients and ordered that similar assistive devices be supplied to residents of the merged tribal districts.