A political controversy has emerged after Adviser to the Prime Minister Ikhtiar Wali claimed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is suffering from depression and has reportedly drafted his resignation twice.
Speaking on a television programme, the PM’s adviser alleged that governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had deteriorated and that the chief minister was facing pressure from both internal party dynamics and public criticism.
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Ikhtiar Wali said Afridi was “mentally under severe stress” due to prevailing political conditions in the province and claimed that he had written his resignation on two separate occasions. However, no documentary evidence was provided to support the assertion.
He further suggested that the provincial government was struggling to deliver on administrative matters and claimed that public sentiment in the province was turning against its leadership.
The adviser called for the dissolution of the provincial assembly, arguing that fresh elections should be held to provide a new mandate for governance.
He also criticised recent protest actions, including the “pen-down strike” announced by the provincial administration, stating that such measures reflected administrative dysfunction rather than political strength.
Referring to development indicators, Ikhtiar Wali alleged that basic facilities in the province, particularly in education and health sectors, remained underdeveloped. He claimed that thousands of schools lacked access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, though these figures were not independently verified.
The adviser also accused the provincial government of mismanaging public funds, alleging that development resources were being diverted to political activities and media campaigns.
The remarks have sparked debate, with political observers noting that such statements could further intensify tensions between the federal government and the provincial leadership.
Meanwhile, no official response has yet been issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government or Chief Minister Sohail Afridi regarding the claims.
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Political analysts say the exchange highlights ongoing friction between ruling and opposition parties, particularly over governance performance and resource allocation in the province. The situation continues to develop as both sides maintain contrasting narratives over the state of governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.