Afridi slams 'unjust' treatment of Imran

K-P chief minister denounces prison conditions, pushes for financial rights, approves education grants

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, while addressing the 42nd provincial cabinet meeting, strongly condemned the "unjust imprisonment and continued isolation" of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

He criticized the lack of basic necessities in jail during the harsh winter and termed the use of water cannons on Imran Khan's sisters as "deeply shameful," declaring that the provincial government "strongly condemns this unfair and inhumane treatment."

During the session, Chief Minister Afridi informed the cabinet about the formation of a subcommittee during the National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting to safeguard the province's financial rights. The committee, headed by the Provincial Adviser on Finance, will present recommendations to the forum.

He emphasized that all political and legal avenues would be explored to secure the province's due funds. Notably, he highlighted that the merged districts were promised Rs100 billion annually for development, yet only Rs168 billion had been provided over seven years, leaving Rs532 billion outstanding.

Addressing newly appointed secretaries, the chief minister stressed merit-based appointments, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption. He directed all departments to submit proposals for the 2026-27 Annual Development Program (ADP) by mid-February, with priority given to public welfare projects.

The cabinet approved the E-Transfer Policy 2025 for teachers under the Elementary & Secondary Education Department. Afridi said the policy, inspired by PTI founder Imran Khan's vision, aims to ensure transparency and merit in teacher postings while allowing educators to focus on teaching.

The policy incorporates factors like length of service, student-teacher ratio, annual performance, and special circumstances such as disability, widowhood, or spouse posting. Despite a previous ban on transfers, over 400 recommendations were received, none of which were entertained.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, said the cabinet also approved over Rs2 billion for completing Good Governance Roadmap interventions in E&S education, including infrastructure upgrades, the Education Internship Program, and innovative sectoral interventions. A one-time Rs300 million grant was sanctioned to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Education Endowment Fund to provide scholarships across the province, including merged districts.

Other key decisions included Rs2.1 million for an Umrah package for the family of the late organ donor Jawad Khan, funding for the Ehsaas Rozgar Program to support over 8,000 vulnerable individuals, and financial allocations for healthcare infrastructure, including Rs2.13 billion for Khyber Institute of Child Health & Children Hospital, Rs454 million for the Health Sciences Institute Jamrud, and Rs1.57 billion for Lady Reading Hospital.