KP CM visits Kohat, meets families of martyred police personnel

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi, during his visit to Kohat, met the families of the police personnel and civilians martyred in the terrorist attack on the Police Lines and paid tribute to the police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Special Branch, Rescue 1122, doctors, district administration and the people of Kohat for their courage and resilience. The Chief Minister said that the manner in which the security personnel and other responders confronted the terrorists during an operation lasting nearly 20 hours was highly commendable. He said the police personnel and civilians who lost their lives while confronting the terrorists had made the ultimate sacrifice for the protection of the nation and the country. He prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks in the Jannah, patience for their bereaved families and early recovery for all those injured in the attack. The Chief Minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been fighting terrorism continuously since 2004, spanning nearly 22 years, during which the province had lost more than 80, 000 precious lives. He said that after immense sacrifices, peace had eventually been achieved in the province, during the tenure of Imran Khan. He said Pakistan’s foreign policy during that period was pursued with the interests of the people and the country as its primary consideration. He said that despite the presence of an India-friendly government in Afghanistan whose relations with Pakistan were not cordial, Imran Khan played a statesmanlike role, invited the Afghan government to Pakistan and developed better relations with Afghanistan. During that period, peace prevailed and terrorism had largely subsided. The Chief Minister said the situation had now taken a different course. He said that the government that came to power in Afghanistan was welcomed with celebrations by the sitting bogus and imposed rulers in Pakistan, and they even drank cups of tea with them, but what is the situation today? Our trade has been disrupted, the border has been closed, economic activities in the tribal districts have come to a standstill, and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has increased and continues to rise. He said the closure of the border had caused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa losses of more than Rs8 billion during the previous financial year, while the province is likely to face further economic losses during the current financial year. The Chief Minister said the deteriorating security situation is a consequence of a failed foreign policy. He said that the same policy has been implemented for the past 22 years, but it has not proved effective. If a policy is not delivering results and is continuously failing, there is a need to shift the policy. The Chief Minister said that the policy being proposed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is not intended to serve the interests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, but to safeguard the interests of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the people of Pakistan. He said that, if implemented, the policy can deliver peace within 100 days. The Chief Minister said that, unfortunately, the federal government and state institutions remain focused on restricting the political activities of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf instead of addressing the growing threat of terrorism. He said that the people and police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to bear the immense burden of the fight against terrorism. Police personnel remain on the frontline, fighting, sustaining injuries and laying down their lives, while innocent citizens, with no crime or wrongdoing to their name, continue to be killed and injured. Despite these sacrifices, the people of the province continue to be viewed in this manner, which is deeply regrettable. Referring to the prevailing state narrative, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that those imposed on the people are calling them terrorists while claiming that there is no threat from India. Referring to “Fitna-tul-Hindustan, ” he said that the bogus Chief Minister of Punjab claims that she faces no threat from India, but rather from three provinces of Pakistan. He said that the federal government and institutions remain focused on suppressing PTI’s political activity, rather than addressing the challenge of terrorism. He said that the PTI flag is not being allowed to be raised, a Chief Minister from one province is not being allowed to conduct political activities in another province, public gatherings and protests are being prevented, slogans in support of Imran Khan are not being allowed, and the PTI agenda is not being permitted to be presented publicly. The Chief Minister said that while the federal government and institutions remain focused on such matters, there is little concern for the people who are making sacrifices on the frontline. He said that if India is not considered a threat while the three provinces are being viewed as a threat, this is deeply regrettable for a province and its people that have made enormous sacrifices for Pakistan. Addressing the youth, people and police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that no one else would come to stand with them and that they must stand up for themselves, their people, their province and Pakistan. He urged them to remain steadfast and keep their morale high, noting that the people and police of the province have continued to fight terrorism with courage and determination for the past 22 years without allowing their resolve to break. The Chief Minister announced that financial assistance would also be provided to the families of those martyred in the incident who do not fall within the scope of the government’s Shuhada Package. Announcing the provision of modern medical equipment at District Headquarters Hospital Kohat, he said that the shortage of CT scan, MRI and other essential modern medical equipment would be addressed. He said that the revamping of all District Headquarters Hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is underway and that modern medical equipment would be provided wherever required. The Chief Minister announced the reconstruction of the mosque affected in the Kohat incident and said that it would be rebuilt to the highest standard. He also announced the establishment of a police station for the Special Branch in Kohat and said that the project would be completed at the earliest. He directed that the Kohat Police Hospital also be improved and provided with the necessary facilities. The Chief Minister said that the healthcare burden on Kohat is substantial and that a 1, 000-bed hospital has already been announced for the district. He said that the project would be fully funded by the provincial government and efforts would be made to complete it within a record period of approximately six months. The Chief Minister also took note of the shortage of police personnel and said that the matter would be taken up in the provincial cabinet and the necessary decision would be made. Earlier, the Chief Minister visited District Headquarters Hospital Kohat, met the injured persons undergoing treatment following the blast and expressed his best wishes for their speedy recovery. Member of the National Assembly Shehryar Afridi, Provincial Ministers Shafi Jan and Aftab Alam, and Member of the Provincial Assembly Dawood Afridi were also present on the occasion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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