Prime Minister’s Adviser and Senator Rana Sanaullah has claimed that Sohail Afridi has constitutionally ceased to hold the office of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister. Speaking in interview on Thursday, October 15, he said Afridi would have to face the cases registered against him. Sanaullah added that no discussions had taken place regarding Afridi’s political future.
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Sanaullah said he could not predict how long Afridi might remain in jail. He also discussed the constitutional framework for governor’s rule and emergency measures. According to him, governor’s rule can initially remain in place for two months and may extended up to six months. He claimed that emergency rule has no specific time limit and that an 11-member council would continue managing provincial affairs after the assembly’s restoration.
The adviser also criticised PTI’s approach to counterterrorism. He alleged that the party’s provincial government had repeatedly urged the federal government to negotiate with militants. Sanaullah argued that security operations should rely on intelligence and should not depend on negotiations or tribal jirgas. He also accused India of supporting militant groups, although he presented no evidence for this claim during the reported remarks.
Sanaullah referred to Operation Zarb-e-Azb, saying it had eliminated terrorism across Pakistan. He urged provincial authorities to cooperate fully with security forces. He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif believed political disputes could be resolved if PTI played a constructive role in counterterrorism efforts.
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Meanwhile, Sanaullah expressed grief over the reported school tragedy in Peshawar’s Dir Colony and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He called for a comprehensive policy to assess school buildings and improve safety. He also proposed soft loans to help private school owners repair and upgrade their buildings, arguing that practical improvements should accompany inspections and accountability measures.