KP Assembly breaks tradition with open-air sitting

• CM Afridi slams Centre over alleged baton charge on Imran’s sisters
• Insists he placed his political capital at stake by engaging with federal govt
• Session boycotted by opposition, except PPP
• House forms committee on gas rights under Article 158

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtu­nkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday criticised the federal government, insisting that his efforts to reduce political tensions were undermined as the sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan were allegedly subjected to baton charge a day after his engagement with the Centre.

Addressing the first-ever open-air sitting of the KP Assembly at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, with Speaker Babar Saleem Swati in the chair, the chief minister said he had placed his political capital at stake by engaging with the federal government in the hope of ending political discrimination.

He said Imran had ordered the cancellation of the April 9 public gathering in the larger national interest, but his sisters were subsequently denied a meeting with him.

“We did this for Pakistan, but you do not care about the country,” the chief minister said, adding that his party would continue its protest peacefully despite being “constantly cornered”.

He said he had written letters seeking permission to meet Imran Khan, but court orders in this regard were not implemented. He also claimed that Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were facing health issues but had not complained despite Imran being in prison “for almost 1,000 days”.

The sitting, held in the open for the first time, was boycotted by opposition benches except for the PPP. Although the initiative aimed to allow public access to proceedings, entry remained restricted.

During the session, the assembly formed a special committee to examine concerns over the implementation of Article 158 of the Constitution, which guarantees provinces the first right to use their natural gas resources.

Members from the treasury benches complained that despite producing gas, the province continued to face shortages. They said districts such as Kohat and Karak, where gas is produced, were still deprived of basic supplies.

Treasury lawmaker Daud Shah informed the house that KP supplied around 50 per cent of the country’s oil and gas but still faced gas load management despite producing about 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against a provincial consumption of 275 mmcfd.

The PPP’s Ahmad Karim Kundi called for a collective approach and emphasised the need for consultation to ensure implementation of Article 158.

KP Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said the constitutional provision clearly granted priority rights to provinces over resources produced within their territory.

He stressed that a recent discovery in Kohat was the largest, producing 15,000 barrels per day and with the capacity to produce 25,000 barrels per day in the future.

The House also passed several resolutions, including one condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and calling on the federal government to withdraw from the Gaza Peace Board.

It said that the continuous Israeli bombing of Gaza, targeting of hospitals, schools and refugee camps, and the killing of thousands of innocent children, women and civilians is a clear violation of international law and human rights.

Another resolution urged the federal government to engage in talks with Afghanistan, stressing that the situation in the neighbouring country directly affected KP. It also called on Kabul to ensure its territory was not used against Pakistan.

The assembly also expressed concern over inter-high-court transfers of judges, particularly regarding the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Through another resolution, the House demanded that the Supreme Court and the IHC immediately hear all the cases related to Imran Khan and other PTI leaders and workers.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026