SWAT: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday sharply criticised federal policies for exacerbating the province’s security crisis, asserting that the people and police of KP are bearing the brunt of misguided governance from Islamabad.
During a visit to Swat to meet injured survivors and bereaved families, the CM vowed to challenge any federal policy he deems detrimental to peace, signalling his willingness to confront the centre over security matters.
Accompanied by Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah, Inspector General Police Zulfiqar Hameed, Special Assistant for Home Affairs Tariq Saeed, Provincial Minister Amjad Ali, and Member of Assembly Fazal Hakeem, Mr Afridi visited hospitalised victims of Sunday’s suicide bombing and personally consoled the families of 17 martyred officers and civilians.
Speaking on this occasion, he said “the people and police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are suffering the consequences of poor policies of the federation,”leveling unprecedented criticism at the federal government’s handling of national security and counter-terrorism strategy.
🚨وفاق کی ناقص پالیسیوں کا خمیازہ خیبرپختونخوا کے عوام،پولیس بھگت رہے ہیں،دہشت گردی کے خلاف جنگ میں خیبرپختونخوا پولیس کے جوانوں،معصوم شہریوں کی قربانیاں رائیگاں نہیں جائیں گی،امن کے لیے خیبرپختونخوا کی عوام،پولیس ،تمام سیاسی و مذہبی قوتوں کو متحد ہوکرکھڑا ہونا ہوگا،سہیل آفریدی pic.twitter.com/dLwcFJzjfi
— Ali Tanoli (@alitanoli889) August 3, 2026
Sohail Afridi articulated a sweeping indictment of what he termed systematic negligence at the federal level.
“Those whose job is to restore peace are engaged in political engineering and posting transfers,” he said, alluding to what provincial officials view as the some institution’s preoccupation with political manoeuvring rather than focused counter-terrorism efforts.
جن کا کام امن بحال کرنا ہے وہ پولیٹیکل انجینئرنگ اور پوسٹنگ ٹرانسفر میں لگے ہوئے ہیں
وزیر اعلی محمد سہیل آفریدی کی سیدو ٹیچنگ ہسپتال میں میڈیا ٹاک pic.twitter.com/8lVaK3I5SQ
— Muhammad Faheem (@MeFaheem) August 3, 2026
Most provocatively, the CM alleged that detained terrorist suspects are being “deliberately released,” suggesting complicity or incompetence at the federal level.
🚨🚨وزیر اعلی محمد سہیل آفریدی کا بڑا دعوی🚨🚨
مسلسل ان لوگوں کو چھوڑا جا رہا ہے
جان بوجھ کر چھوڑا جا رہا ہے
سوات میں جو ہوا، بونیر میں کچھ ہونے جا رہا ہے
ہنگو میں واقعہ کسی کی غفلت کی وجہ سے ہوا
دیر واقعہ بھی کسی کی غفلت تھا
پولیس ان کو بلا رہی تھی وہ نہیں آئے
امن کیلئے کسی… pic.twitter.com/2tuIsoRotq— Muhammad Faheem (@MeFaheem) August 3, 2026
“These people are being continuously released. They are being released deliberately,” he asserted, linking a pattern of released detainees to successive terror attacks across KP.
The KP Chief Minister drew direct connections between federal negligence and recent high-profile attacks, suggesting a systemic failure rather than isolated incidents.
“What happened in Swat, something is going to happen in Buner. The incident in Hangu happened due to someone’s negligence. The late incident was also someone’s negligence,” he said, referencing the recent ambush in Hangu district that killed 11 police officers and the Tank car bombing that claimed 27 military personnel.
Police observers believe his remarks represent an unusual public rebuke of federal security management by a provincial chief executive, signalling deepening tensions between Islamabad and Peshawar over counter-terrorism strategy and resource allocation.
Defiant Stand on Policy
“If I have to rebel against any policy for peace, I will do it,” the CM declared, staking out an assertive position that suggests willingness to challenge federal directives deemed counter to provincial security interests.
The statement, again, reflects growing frustration among KP’s political leadership with what they perceive as inadequate federal support in combating an escalating terror crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives this year alone.
Call for Provincial Unity
Despite his scathing criticism of federal authorities, Sohail Afridi emphasised that peace constitutes a shared responsibility requiring unified action across KP’s political and religious spectrum.
“Peace is common to all of us. All political parties here are satisfied that peace is common to us. The people, police, and all political and religious forces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must stand for peace,” he said.
وزیر اعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا محمد سہیل آفریدی سوات دورے پر پہنچ گئے
وزیر اعلیٰ نے گزشتہ روز ہونے والے دھماکے کے شہداء کے اہلخانہ سے ملاقات کی
وزیر اعلیٰ نے شہداء کے ایصالِ ثواب کے لیے فاتحہ خوانی کی اور لواحقین سے دلی تعزیت و ہمدردی کا اظہار کیا pic.twitter.com/iiUUqD3zh8
— Information Department KP (@infokpgovt) August 3, 2026
Earlier, during his hospital visits, the Chief Minister personally met with injured survivors, enquiring about their medical treatment and welfare. Medical officials briefed him on the condition of patients, most of whom sustained shrapnel injuries and burns from the blast.
The CM also visited the homes of martyred officers and civilians, expressing condolences to bereaved families and assuring them of government support.
