Peshawar, OCT 20: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday imposed a ban on arrests under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and unveiled a wide-ranging reform agenda focused on governance, law and order, and anti-corruption.
Sohail Afridi presided over his first formal high-level meeting after assuming office, attended by the Chief Secretary, IGP, Additional Chief Secretary, Administrative Secretaries, and senior police officials, while all divisional and district heads joined via video link.
The meeting reviewed the Good Governance Roadmap, which focuses on public service delivery, law and order, and the economy, aligned with the PTI’s vision and manifesto.
Afridi praised the provincial bureaucracy and police for protecting the public mandate during the February 8, 2024 elections, despite external pressures. He announced that honest officials will be rewarded, while those who acted against the public interest will face strict accountability.
Focus on good governance
Emphasising a zero-tolerance policy on corruption, the Chief Minister said no official would remain in office if found negligent in public service.
“There is a PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Imran Khan is the life chairman of the party; implementing the party’s agenda is the duty of every government institution,” Afridi stated.
He also directed authorities to link the e-PAID system with e-tendering to promote transparency in financial matters and introduce a Conceptual Examination System to eliminate rote learning from education.
Afridi warned that violations of merit and the recommendation culture in postings and transfers will not be tolerated.
Major Development Announcements
Afridi unveiled several key initiatives, particularly for Peshawar and the merged tribal districts, including:
Establishment of Tribal Medical College and Tribal University of Modern Sciences.
Launch of a Safe City Project and construction of playgrounds in every tehsil.
Founding of the University of Investigative and Modern Journalism named after Shaheed Arshad Sharif.
Preparation of a ‘Revival Plan’ for Peshawar city to restore its infrastructure and culture.
He said these projects reflect his vision of practical governance, aiming to bring real change that citizens can experience.
Ban on arrests under 3MPO
In one of his most significant decisions, the Chief Minister banned all arrests under Section 3 of the MPO across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He affirmed that no political figure will be detained under the MPO, as freedom of expression is a constitutional right. All FIRs based on political revenge will be withdrawn, he added.
Afridi directed the police to ensure no individual is targeted for political reasons and to maintain a professional, impartial law enforcement culture.
He strongly opposed the torture of prisoners and warned that KP police would not be allowed to replicate the Punjab-style policing culture.
Sohail Afridi announced that the provincial government would equip the KP police with modern weapons and resources, ensuring there is no shortage of funds for security needs.
Criticizing the federal government, Afridi said Islamabad’s failure to release funds owed to KP — including those for the War on Terror — was worsening the province’s security and economic challenges.
Rejecting the substandard bulletproof vehicles provided by the Federal Interior Ministry, Afridi termed them “a mockery of the KP police” and ordered their return.
He also directed that security for former chief ministers be restored, ensuring their safety and dignity.
