CM Afridi flags ‘humiliating tactics’ in letter to CM Maryam Nawaz

Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Suhail Afridi, has expressed displeasure over the conduct of the Punjab government during his visit to Lahore and has written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

In the letter addressed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Suhail Afridi stated that the manner in which matters were handled during his visit was not a mere lapse but appeared to be deliberate.

He said the incident was neither an administrative oversight nor accidental; rather, it undermined a constitutional office and damaged inter-provincial respect.

Suhail Afridi said that he visited Lahore as a representative of 40 million people, and what he experienced was in no way befitting an elected public office-holder. He added that markets and public places were closed, causing inconvenience to the citizens of Lahore, and even motorway rest areas were blocked.

He further stated that a social media campaign was launched against him in connection with his visit, with baseless allegations linking him to drug smuggling. He alleged that this campaign took place under the supervision of the Punjab government.

According to him, such conduct was aimed at damaging his reputation and cannot be ignored. He said administrative tactics were employed with the intent to humiliate him.

The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wrote that such actions were an attempt to undermine harmony among state units. Through the letter, he lodged a strong protest against this conduct and expressed hope that corrective measures would be taken and such actions avoided in the future. He added that the letter should be kept on record for any future constitutional, legal, or inter-provincial proceedings.

Earlier, while presiding over a provincial cabinet meeting via video link, Chief Minister Suhail Afridi said that the Punjab government’s conduct during his visit was undemocratic.

He further alleged that members of his cabinet were subjected to violence by the Punjab government and stated that the Punjab administration had fallen to moral and intellectual decline. He warned that hateful behavior at a time when national unity is required is harmful to the country.