Naqvi Claims Sohail Afridi Feared Political Backlash Over Terrorism
Published On 16 Oct, 2026
9 News HD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was worried about the political cost of supporting the fight against terrorism.
Speaking during a joint session of Parliament on October 15, Naqvi said the federal government had made several efforts to get the KP government to work with it against terrorism. He claimed that Afridi had said he could not support the effort because of the political impact it might have.
Naqvi said the government wanted both the federal and provincial administrations to work together to improve security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also referred to meetings held with provincial leaders to discuss ways to deal with rising terrorist attacks.
The interior minister said the government had proposed steps to strengthen police forces in five districts of the province. According to him, the plan was meant to help local police take greater responsibility for security.
Naqvi also said the federal government had tried to avoid imposing emergency rule and governor’s rule in the province. He maintained that the government wanted the provincial administration to take a leading role in the fight against terrorism.
The issue has added to tensions between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had been running the provincial government before its suspension.
However, the two sides have different views on the matter. PTI leaders have rejected the federal government’s claims and questioned its decision to take control of the province.
The disagreement comes as security concerns remain a major issue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The debate over how to tackle terrorism and who should lead the effort is likely to remain a key point of discussion between the two sides.
