CM Afridi scheduled to attend PTI rally in Kohat; locals express disappointment

KOHAT: The opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to hold a major rally in Kohat today, with the attendance of top political figures including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

The event, organised by PTI’s provincial president Junaid Akbar, will take place at Kohat’s Janana Mill Ground. Preparations for the rally have been completed, and PTI leaders are calling it a historic event for the region. PTI workers and leaders are optimistic about the rally, which they believe will send a strong message of support and unity in Kohat. CM Afridi’s participation is seen as a significant boost for the party in this region.

However, local sentiment seems less enthusiastic, with many residents expressing skepticism about the rally’s potential impact. Many Kohat residents have voiced their disappointment, suggesting that similar rallies in the past have failed to bring about meaningful change. Locals claim that these rallies are often filled with slogans but do not lead to any substantial development or mega-projects that could benefit the people of Kohat.

One local resident, speaking to HUM News, expressed frustration, saying, that these PTI rallies bring the same promises and slogans, but when it comes to tangible projects, Kohat is always left behind.

KHAWAJA ASIF CALLS MAY 9 EVENTS ‘A FAIZ-IMRAN JV’

The rally comes at a time of heightened political activity in Pakistan, with PTI and its leadership under intense scrutiny. Yesterday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made significant comments regarding the military’s handling of former ISI chief, Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. Asif praised the army for taking unprecedented action by punishing Hameed, referring to it as a historic move. Hameed, a controversial figure with deep ties to PTI’s founder Imran Khan, is accused of being involved in a political “project” that helped bring Khan to power a decade ago.

Asif also warned that further legal actions would be taken against Hameed over allegations linked to the events of May 9, when violent protests rocked Pakistan following Imran Khan’s arrest. He called it a joint venture between the ex-ISI chief and former premier. The Defence Minister claimed that Faiz Hameed and Imran Khan were also the key figures in orchestrating the removal of Nawaz Sharif from office in 2017 and that their actions caused significant harm to the nation.

Asif took a jab at PTI’s foreign relations as well, alleging that party leaders had paid the Taliban and that foreign influences, particularly India, were trying to manipulate developments along Pakistan’s western border.

He praised the current military leadership for earning Pakistan “unprecedented respect” globally, adding that the country was now stabilising.