Web Desk: Citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have criticised Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s decision to travel to Karachi, saying his presence was needed in the province as it deals with flood-related deaths, security concerns and a range of administrative problems.
The criticism comes amid growing public frustration over the provincial government’s handling of multiple challenges, with residents questioning whether the chief minister should be away from KP while communities affected by flooding and other crises require assistance.
Residents said the chief minister should have visited areas affected by flooding and assessed the situation on the ground instead of travelling to Karachi for political engagements.
A resident of Mardan told local media that floods had caused widespread damage in parts of the province and resulted in loss of life. He argued that the provincial leadership should have been present among affected communities and overseeing relief efforts.
The resident also criticised the provincial government over what he described as inadequate attention to employment, development and other public concerns.
Other residents voiced concerns about electricity shortages, the condition of hospitals and schools, traffic problems and the broader law-and-order situation.
One Mardan resident said people were already struggling with electricity bills and the effects of flooding, while the chief minister’s political engagements had become a source of frustration.
The resident also complained about a lack of development in parts of Mardan district and called on the provincial government to prioritise basic services and infrastructure.
Another resident, Imad Siddiqui, criticised Afridi’s Karachi visit and urged the chief minister to return to KP and focus on providing relief to people affected by the province’s problems.
Siddiqui said the chief minister should prioritise public welfare rather than political activities outside the province.
Meanwhile, another Mardan resident, Zohr Bacha, questioned the timing of Afridi’s political engagements, drawing comparisons with the previous provincial government’s response to earlier crises.
He argued that the chief minister should focus on relief operations, public services and the concerns of residents instead of political activities.
The criticism comes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to confront a combination of security, infrastructure and governance challenges.
The province has experienced recurring militant violence, while flooding has added pressure on communities and provincial authorities. At the same time, residents continue to raise concerns over electricity supply, health care, education, roads and other basic services.
Against this backdrop, citizens have called on the provincial government to concentrate its attention and resources on immediate public needs.
Afridi’s Karachi visit has therefore triggered a broader debate over the priorities of the KP government at a time when residents say the province needs stronger leadership on the ground.
While the chief minister has pursued political engagements outside KP, citizens have urged the provincial leadership to give greater attention to flood-hit communities, security concerns and the delivery of essential services.
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