Web Desk: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government is facing fresh political pressure following allegations of large-scale financial irregularities in development contracts, including projects linked to international development funding.
According to sources Abdul Hadi, also known as “Patang Hadi” is an associate and relative of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, left Pakistan for Dubai as scrutiny of the transactions intensified.
Afridi is the sitting chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, having assumed office in October 2025.
The allegations come against the backdrop of an existing inquiry into the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project, or KPCIP, a major urban development programme financed by the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the provincial government.
Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau opened a formal inquiry in 2025 after lawmakers raised allegations of financial irregularities amounting to Rs32 billion. The bureau sought records covering consultant appointments, contractor prequalification, bids, audits and project advertisements.
Lawmakers had also alleged procurement violations, questionable payments and weak oversight. The complaints included claims that a joint venture received substantial disbursements despite limited physical progress.
A project director for one of the companies named in the complaints rejected the allegations and said the firm had operated transparently and complied with project requirements.
The latest allegations centre on a laptop reportedly recovered from a dismissed project manager.
According to the claims supplied for this report, the device contained information concerning commissions, the allocation of development contracts and Hadi’s purported involvement in project decisions.
The source material further alleges that the project manager was subsequently kept out of sight as scrutiny increased.
The allegations have also revived claims of internal tensions within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf camp over the distribution of development projects and accusations of favouritism.
The source material points to disagreements involving projects in Khyber district and allegations that members of the chief minister’s family exercised influence over their allocation. Those claims also remain unverified.
Separately, the political environment around the KP government has become increasingly tense. Recent reporting has documented a widening dispute between the provincial and federal governments, while some political actors have raised the possibility of major changes to the provincial setup, including a no-confidence motion, assembly dissolution or governor’s rule.
The corruption allegations therefore emerge at a time when the KP government is already under significant political pressure.
Afridi has continued to publicly defend his administration while engaging in a broader dispute with the federal government over security policy and the province’s role in counterterrorism decisions.
For now, the documented NAB inquiry into the KPCIP provides an established institutional investigation into alleged financial irregularities. The additional claims concerning Hadi’s alleged departure to Dubai, the purported laptop evidence and alleged political involvement remain allegations requiring independent verification.
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