Last Updated on September 29, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN DESK
PESHAWAR (Sept 29): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi struck a highly defiant tone on Tuesday during a speech in Peshawar, declaring that his party will go ahead with a major national protest march scheduled for 4 October regardless of state resistance.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for a new fleet of women-only “Pink Buses” integrated into the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, the Chief Minister used the platform to lash out at political rivals and federal security policies. “Official positions and power only matter to those driven by personal interest,” Afridi told the audience. “We will not be intimidated into backing down.“
In a thinly veiled attack widely understood to target Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Afridi accused the opposition of using public funds for personal luxury. “Those who come to power through genuine public mandates do not purchase private aeroplanes or luxury vehicles with purple interiors,” he remarked. He further alleged that billions of rupees of taxpayers’ money were being wasted on a three-day official conference, claiming that leaders who enter through “the back door” care little for ordinary citizens.
Turning his focus to national security and governance, the Chief Minister heavily criticised federal ministers, accusing them of disrespecting the province’s sacrifices. He warned that his administration would aggressively challenge behind-the-scenes policy decisions made by federal authorities. “This time, every single policy that leaves this province bloodied will be changed,” Afridi said. “If necessary, we will revolt, but we will not accept such strategies”.
Afridi also took the opportunity to highlight his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, announcing a 25 per cent fare discount for women travelling on the newly launched Pink Buses. Praising the project’s female drivers as role models, he rejected external narratives that paint the province as a hotbed of insecurity. “Those who brand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a terrorist hub should look at how we respect our mothers and sisters here,” Afridi concluded, adding that the state’s traditional values remain fully intact.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
