PTI's Peshawar Power Show: CM Afridi Launches Attack On Military, Vows To

Last Updated:December 08, 2025, 14:56 IST

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi claimed that the Pakistan Army’s strategies had left Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unstable and scarred by repeated conflict

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Sohail Afridi

In a dramatic show of strength in Peshawar, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and opposition leaders held a massive rally expressing solidarity with former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated. The gathering quickly turned into one of the strongest public confrontations against Pakistan’s military establishment in recent months, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, CNN-News18 has learnt.

Addressing supporters, Afridi launched a blistering critique of Pakistan’s security policies, accusing the military of failing to establish peace in the province despite “two decades of continuous operations”. He claimed that the Pakistan Army’s strategies had left Khyber Pakhtunkhwa unstable and scarred by repeated conflict.

“Peace has not been established in 20 years because of the failure of Pakistan military policies,” Afridi declared. “For 21 years, operations have been conducted, yet peace remains a distant dream.”

Afridi alleged that security forces were responsible for collateral damage and drone strikes within the province—claims the military has repeatedly denied in the past. “The Pakistan Army is playing dirty with Pakhtoon blood,” he told the crowd. “Innocent Pakhtoons are being killed in the name of security operations.”

Much of Afridi’s speech was directed at the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), following recent remarks from the military spokesperson. Accusing the DG ISPR of creating a “negative narrative” against Imran Khan, Afridi responded with unusually personal language.

“Don’t develop a negative narrative against Imran Khan; you are a liar,” he said. “I am a Pakhtoon—don’t use wrong words against me or any Pakhtoon. Don’t protect fake government parties. You are a military spokesperson, not theirs.”

He challenged the military spokesperson to “have the dare to take Imran Khan’s name directly”.

Afridi insisted that the KP government was following all constitutional and legal requirements and warned the federal authorities and the military establishment against escalating tensions. “Don’t push us to confrontation—we are fulfilling all legal and constitutional obligations,” he said.

PTI & Opposition Vow Resistance

PTI and opposition leaders at the rally vowed to continue their political struggle for what they described as the “restoration of democracy” and the “rights of the people of Pakistan”.

The most forceful warning came when Afridi addressed speculation about the possible imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said any such move would trigger massive street mobilisation. “If the federal government and military establishment impose Governor Raj in KP, we will hit the streets—and they can’t stop us,” Afridi said, drawing loud applause.

Rare and Open Confrontation

The Peshawar jalsa marked a rare instance of a sitting chief minister directing harsh, direct criticism at Pakistan’s military leadership. The rally underscored PTI’s ongoing pushback against state institutions amid ongoing legal battles and political restrictions on the party.

As tensions between the KP government, PTI, and the establishment deepen, the Peshawar power show signals a potentially volatile new phase in Pakistan’s political landscape.

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