Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has imposed a province-wide ban on arrests under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) and announced a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at strengthening governance, law and order, and anti-corruption efforts.
Chairing his first high-level meeting since assuming office, Afridi was joined by the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary, and senior officials, with all divisional and district heads attending via video link.
The meeting reviewed the Good Governance Roadmap, which aligns with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vision of improved public service delivery, economic reform, and accountability.
Afridi commended the bureaucracy and police for upholding the public mandate during the February 8, 2024 elections, pledging that honest officials would be rewarded while those acting against the public interest would face strict consequences.
Emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, he stated that no official negligent in public service would retain their position.
Among the major initiatives announced were the establishment of a Tribal Medical College, a Tribal University of Modern Sciences, and the University of Investigative and Modern Journalism named after Shaheed Arshad Sharif.
Afridi also announced a Safe City Project, the construction of playgrounds in every tehsil, and a Revival Plan to restore Peshawar’s infrastructure and cultural heritage.
A key policy move was the ban on all arrests under Section 3 of the MPO. Afridi affirmed that no political leader would be detained under the law, calling freedom of expression a constitutional right. He directed the police to act impartially, prevent political victimization, and maintain professional conduct.
Afridi also criticized the federal government for withholding KP’s due funds, particularly those related to the War on Terror, and ordered the return of substandard bulletproof vehicles provided by the Interior Ministry.
