Peshawar: The increasingly confrontational rhetoric of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has triggered deep concern among political observers, warning that persistent negativity and pessimism could further overshadow the provincial government’s core responsibility of addressing the province’s mounting governance, security and economic challenges.
Political experts argued that a chief executive’s public statements carry particular weight and that excessive negative political rhetoric can widen distances between state institutions and KP Govt besides divert attention from issues directly affecting ordinary citizens.
KP is confronting a difficult mix of problems such as terrorism, law and order, unemployment, inflation, economic pressures and demands from public-sector employees and students for wages as well as employment.
Against this backdrop, political observers said the province needs sustained economic growth, institutional coordination and policy delivery rather than a political environment dominated by confrontation and uncalled for long marches.
The wider question, therefore, is not whether politicians should disagree, but whether political competition can be conducted without weakening institutional dialogue, political tolerance and diverting attention from governance and service delivery.
‘Democracy largely depends not only on elections but also on political tolerance, institutional respect, accountability and the ability of competing parties to disagree without undermining the functioning of democratic institutions,’ Professor Dr Zahid Anwar of the Political Science Department, University of Peshawar, told reporter.
He said the growing political friction in KP placed greater responsibility on all political actors, especially on the provincial government to ensure that political competition and a person-centre politics did not overshadow the governance responsibilities entrusted to elected representatives.
‘Today opposition is tomorrow government in a democratic setup. Politicians should demonstrate political maturity and work together for the resolution of KP’s issues, while a great responsibility rests on the Chief Minister KP to lead,’ he said.
Dr Anwar also recalled the country’s history of political confrontations and institutional crises, saying political wrangling had contributed to democratic disruption in the past. He expressed hope that political leaders would learn from that history and avoid repeating patterns that could further deepen political polarisation in KP.
Awami National Party (ANP) Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sardar Hussain Babak criticised the KP government over what he described as an inadequate response to terrorism and other problems confronting the province.
Babak said that terrorism, lawlessness, inflation and unemployment had left people deeply troubled across KP. He said security forces and civilians continued to face terrorists attacks while the Chief Minister KP was focusing on political mobilisation rather than the province’s immediate problems.
Babak also referred to protests by university teachers against non payment of salaries and said young people were increasingly disappointed because of limited employment opportunities in KP.
He accused the PTI government of failing to give sufficient attention to its responsibilities and claimed that KP had been moving towards anarchy and destruction due to poor policies of PTI over the past 13 years.
Babak also questioned the internal decision-making structure of PTI, saying Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was the party chairman while decisions were allegedly being taken by Sohail Afridi.
Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam also launched a strong attack on PTI and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, accusing the provincial government of poor performance and failing to resolve public problems.
Muqam said the federal government was prepared for negotiations but ruled out any discussion on releasing the PTI founder, saying his conviction and sentence were matters for the courts.
While criticising the PTI’s proposed protest campaign, he claimed that postponement of PTI long march call reflected a lack of public support even in Peshawar.
Muqam further accused PTI of facilitating the resettlement of militants in KP and criticised what he described as the party’s position on negotiations with militants.
The federal minister in a media talk here described terrorism as one of KP’s most serious challenges and said civilians and law-enforcement personnel continued to pay a heavy price while PTI leaders paid a deaf year.
He also criticised the provincial government over the poor condition of hospitals and schools and alleged corruption and poor governance in KP.
Engr Amir Muqam proposed an All Parties Conference to address the province’s problems and stressed the need for political unity to confront terrorism.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, meanwhile, has emphasised security reforms and institutional coordination as priorities for his government.
On Monday, he called for a coordinated and comprehensive strategy involving the provincial government, administration, police and other stakeholders to achieve lasting peace in KP.
CM Afridi said maintaining peace was a collective responsibility and claimed that his government had allocated additional resources to strengthen the police, including Rs35 billion from the development budget.
The police budget had been increased by 103 percent in the financial year 2026.
According to the Chief Minister, work was underway to increase police manpower and operational capacity, strengthen the Special Branch and provide modern weapons and other equipment.
For ordinary citizens, however, the test of PTI government is ultimately visible in security, education, health, employment, prices, infrastructure and delivery of public services rather than aimless long marches.
Political parties have the right to criticise one another, mobilise supporters and challenge government policies. At the same time, elected governments carry constitutional and administrative responsibilities that continue regardless of political tensions.
The current political climate therefore places responsibility on both government and opposition to keep disagreements within democratic and institutional channels and work together for resolution of KP problems.
For KP, where terrorism continues to pose a major security challenge and economic pressures are affecting poor households, political maturity may be measured less by the intensity of speeches and more by the ability of competing political forces to find workable solutions.
The province’s citizens ultimately need functioning institutions, effective public services and security. Political rhetoric can mobilise supporters, but lasting democratic stability depends on whether political differences can coexist with institutional respect, accountability and a sustained focus on governance and relief to masses.