PESHAWAR — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Junaid Akbar has said Sohail Afridi will continue as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until the party’s founder, Imran Khan, decides otherwise, placing the final say over the province’s leadership firmly in the hands of the incarcerated former prime minister.
Speaking on the Dunya News programme “Dunya Mehr Bukhari Ka Saath,” Akbar said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI workers had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, and he reiterated that the provincial government’s leadership would not change unless Imran Khan directed it.
Decision Rests With Imran Khan
Akbar dismissed the significance of what he described as “X, Y, Z” figures, saying that while individuals might hold different aspirations, the final decision rested with Imran Khan and would be accepted by everyone in the party.
He added that PTI workers and the public were connected with Afridi, reinforcing the chief minister’s standing within the party’s grassroots base.
Opposition Dismissed as Out of Touch
The PTI leader said the opposition could hold as many press conferences as it wanted, but claimed the public was not interested in watching them. According to Akbar, the government’s deployment of a large number of containers and police personnel indicated that it was concerned about PTI’s preparations.
He said “preparation” carried no special meaning for PTI, adding that party workers could mobilise within 24 hours.
Negotiations and Back-Channel Contacts
Akbar said he was unaware of any back-channel negotiations but acknowledged that political figures were always in contact with one another. He confirmed that PTI had formed a four-member negotiation committee and said the party believed in talks.
The PTI leader said the party had used every available forum and maintained that dialogue should be pursued to find a way forward.
“Our first priority is the country; politics comes later,” he said.
He further said that behind-the-scenes contacts were a normal part of politics, and he clarified that PTI did not intend to “conquer Islamabad.”
No Comment on Gandapur
Commenting on former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Akbar said his relations with Gandapur were not good and therefore he did not consider it appropriate to comment on Gandapur’s statement.
