PTI’s Peshawar Rally Sparks Bold Accusations Against the Military as KP Chief Minister Vows to Safeguard Democracy
Last Updated: December 08, 2025, 14:56 IST
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi directed sharp criticism at Pakistan’s military during a PTI gathering in Peshawar, arguing that the province has suffered instability and ongoing conflict because of strategic decisions by the armed forces.
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In a high-profile PTI rally in Peshawar, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi accused the national security establishment of failing to deliver lasting peace in the province and pledged to defend democracy. He also warned against any imposition of Governor’s Rule, signaling that large-scale street protests would follow if such steps were taken.
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi
Delivering a forceful address in Peshawar, Afridi leveled criticisms at Pakistan’s security policy, stating that 20 years of operations have not brought true peace to the region. He claimed that the Pakistan Army’s approach has left KP unstable and repeatedly riven by conflict.
“Peace has not taken root in two decades because military policy has failed,” Afridi asserted. “Twenty-one years of operations have yet to deliver lasting calm.”
Afridi asserted that security actions have caused civilian harm and drone strikes within the province—claims the military has repeatedly denied. “The Pakhtun community’s blood is being shed in the name of security operations,” he proclaimed to the crowd.
A significant portion of the speech targeted the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), reacting to recent remarks by the military spokesperson. He accused the DG ISPR of crafting a negative storyline about Imran Khan, responding with unusually personal language.
“Do not spin a negative narrative about Imran Khan; you are misleading,” he said. “I am a Pakhtoon—avoid using disparaging language about me or any Pakhtoon. Do not shield fake government-backed parties. You are a military spokesperson, not the mouthpiece for others.”
Afridi challenged the military spokesperson to openly name Imran Khan.
He insisted that the KP government is abiding by all constitutional and legal requirements and warned both the federal authorities and the military against heightening tensions. “Do not push us toward confrontation—we are fulfilling all legal and constitutional obligations,” he stated.
PTI and Opponents Pledge Resistance
PTI and allied opposition figures at the rally vowed to persist in their campaign for what they termed the restoration of democracy and the rights of Pakistan’s people.
The clearest warning came when Afridi addressed rumors about Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He warned that such a move would trigger massive street action. “If the federal government and the military impose Governor’s Rule in KP, the streets will rise—and they will not be able to stop us,” Afridi proclaimed, receiving sustained applause.
Unprecedented Public Confrontation
The Peshawar gathering marked a rare public rebuke by a sitting chief minister toward Pakistan’s military leadership. The event underscored PTI’s ongoing pushback against state institutions amid ongoing legal cases and political constraints facing the party.
As tensions between the KP administration, PTI, and the broader establishment intensify, the Peshawar rally signals a potentially volatile new phase in Pakistan’s political landscape.
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Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
First Published: December 08, 2025, 14:56 IST
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PTI's Peshawar Power Show: KP Chief Minister Afridi Targets Military, Vows to Champion Democracy
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