Last Updated on October 10, 2026 by YeJahan
MUHAMMAD BIN SAEED
MARDAN (Oct 10): The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, has delivered a fierce warning to Pakistan’s federal government, vowing a mass public uprising in Peshawar if the Centre attempts to dismantle his provincial government by imposing Emergency or Governor’s Rule.
Addressing crowds of supporters at the Chamtar intersection in Mardan, Afridi stated his administration would not be intimidated by threats of emergency measures or Governor’s Rule.
“If they try to trample on the public mandate by imposing Governor’s Rule or a State of Emergency, the entire population will march on Peshawar,” the Chief Minister warned.
Afridi, in a separate message posted on X, declared that only Imran Khan’s policies would be implemented in the province. He stated that Imran Khan alone would rule, emphasizing that public rule is effectively Imran Khan’s rule.
خیبر پختونخواہ میں پالیسی صرف عمران خان کی چلے گی۔ راج صرف عمران خان کا ہوگا۔ عوامی راج ہی عمران خان کا راج ہے۔
— Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) October 10, 2026
The Swabi Ultimatum
The speech marks a sharp escalation in a week-long stand-off between the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the federal coalition. Afridi is leading a high-profile political caravan across the province, aimed at securing the release of the country’s imprisoned former Prime Minister, Imran Khan.
The Chief Minister announced that the long march would resume its push from Sheikh Maltoon, Mardan, moving toward a major show of strength. “Tomorrow, you must all reach Swabi to enforce Section 804,” Afridi told the crowd, a symbolic reference to Khan’s prisoner identification number.
“Looking at the sheer passion of the public, our opponents are losing sleep out of fear,” he claimed. “We do not crave titles or power, but we will defend our constitutional right.”
A Fragmented Federation
Afridi, who at 36 is the youngest Chief Minister in Pakistan’s history, took aim at the legitimacy of the federal setup. He asserted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa holds the only genuine democratic mandate left in the country, branding other regional administrations as “imposed, fake governments.”
“The people of this province gave their mandate to Imran Khan,” Afridi said. “The policy here will belong to Imran Khan, and the rule will belong to Imran Khan.”
The political gridlock comes amid severe friction over counter-terrorism policies. The federal government has openly mulled suspending the KP assembly, accusing provincial leadership of refusing to cooperate with central law enforcement agencies. Afridi has countered by refusing to sign off on new federal military actions in the volatile border region, citing the displacement and economic devastation suffered by tribal communities during previous operations.
“Not Afraid of Bullets”
Despite reports of state crackdowns, including the detention of several PTI parliamentarians and unannounced cellular network blackouts across parts of the province, the KP government insists it will not back down.
“We are not afraid of guns and bullets. This time, we will fight back peacefully but firmly,” Afridi declared, maintaining that arresting political leaders would fail to deter the public. “Even if people have to come out alone, they will take to the streets regardless.”
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
