Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi held a one-on-one meeting with Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Umar Ahmed Bukhari to review the province’s overall security situation and ongoing counterterrorism efforts, sources confirmed on Friday.
The high-level meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, focused on strengthening coordination between civil and military institutions to maintain law and order amid renewed security challenges in the region. According to official sources, the two leaders also discussed development projects and public welfare initiatives in the tribal districts, emphasizing the importance of stability for sustainable progress.
Chief Minister Afridi stressed that “ensuring lasting peace in the province requires trust and cooperation among all stakeholders,” adding that a joint strategy against terrorism was the need of the hour. He reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring normalcy in areas recently affected by militant activity.
Sources further revealed that the Chief Minister has convened an Apex Committee meeting to be held soon after the Corps Commander talks to review additional measures for strengthening internal security.
However, the meeting has also sparked a political debate on social media, with some users questioning whether Afridi’s engagement with the military leadership took place with the approval of PTI founder Imran Khan. Critics pointed out that Afridi had previously linked the formation of his provincial cabinet to a meeting with Khan but has now met the Corps Commander independently, raising questions over internal party coordination.
Despite the controversy, political observers view the meeting as a significant step toward enhancing civil-military collaboration in one of Pakistan’s most security-sensitive provinces.
