KP provincial government accused of sabotaging talks and ignoring security crisis

Political tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have escalated following accusations from federal officials against the provincial government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon accused KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of sabotaging government-led negotiations in Islamabad. Memon claimed that talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were nearing a solution before Afridi allegedly undermined the process due to personal ego and a desire to please PTI leadership.

Simultaneously, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the provincial administration for its handling of the worsening security crisis and terrorism in the region. Asif alleged that the PTI-led government has shown “complete detachment” from the security situation and accused the provincial leadership of prioritizing political long marches over addressing violence. He further claimed the provincial government has failed to adequately respond to terrorist attacks, including a recent incident in Dera Ismail Khan.