Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned remarks by the province’s Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, “disparaging the security forces and assailing counter-terrorism operations in KP.”
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail a day prior, the CM alleged that security forces in KP would bring dogs into mosques and tie them down there, thereby violating the sanctity of holy places.
“When we would go and tell them that they are violating the sanctity of the mosque, they would tell us ‘you and these dogs are no different’,” CM Afridi said. “Despite this, we still support them … but do they know the pain of my people?”
Taking to X and posting a video of the CM’s remarks, Kundi wrote that he condemned any rhetoric that undermined the “honour and sacrifice” of the armed forces.
“The brave sons of our soil lay down their lives to protect our province — questioning their intent in sensational terms only damages morale and public safety,” he wrote.
Kundi affirmed the importance of intelligence-based operations, stating that they were necessary to protect the public and were conducted solely to safeguard the population.
“Political debate must not cross into actions or words that weaken our security institutions,” he wrote. “[KP CM Afridi] should exercise restraint and place the safety and unity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa above partisan posturing.”
The governor maintained that KP’s security demands that all political forces stand with the armed forces to ensure peace in the province.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in KP and Balochistan, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies’ personnel, and security forces.
