Afridi, Maulana agree on joint strategy to safeguard KP rights

Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman agreed to jointly pursue issues relating to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s constitutional and financial rights, including the province’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, gas supply and wheat shortages.
Addressing a joint press conference at Mufti Mahmood Markaz late on Monday night, the chief minister said the meeting was convened to hold detailed consultations on matters concerning the province’s rights and to evolve a consensus-based strategy for safeguarding the interests of KP.
Mr Afridi said the most pressing issue was the province’s share under the NFC framework, alleging that the federal government had subjected the province to discriminatory treatment over the past eight years.
He argued that following the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with KP under the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, the existing NFC Award had effectively become outdated. He maintained that more than six million people had been added to the province’s population after the merger, but the share attributable to the merged districts was not being provided to the province.
The chief minister said he had raised the matter with a federal minister earlier in the day and called for either an immediate revision of the existing NFC arrangement or the constitution of the 11th NFC Award.
Referring to wheat shortages, Mr Afridi alleged that the Punjab government had continued to block wheat supplies to KP, describing the move as a violation of Article 151 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of trade and commerce within the country.
He said both sides had agreed to oppose what they termed an unconstitutional measure and would jointly raise their voice on the issue.
The chief minister also highlighted the province’s concerns regarding gas supply, citing Article 158 of the Constitution, which gives priority to a gas-producing province in meeting its own requirements.
He said KP produced more than 500 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) of natural gas while consuming around 150 MMCFD, adding that despite supplying surplus gas to the rest of the country, the province continued to face prolonged gas load-shedding.

Mr Afridi said complete consensus had been reached with Maulana Fazlur Rehman on the issue and that a common position would be adopted to safeguard the province’s rights.
He added that the two leaders also discussed challenges facing the merged tribal districts and reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts for the protection of the constitutional, financial and fundamental rights of the people of KP.
Responding to a question about the registration of religious seminaries, the chief minister said the provincial government would support legislation for the registration of madrassas and play a constructive role in the process.
Asked about consultations on the provincial budget, Mr Afridi said the budget belonged to the people of the province and that it was the government’s responsibility to consult political leadership entrusted with the public mandate. He added that seeking guidance from Imran Khan before major national and financial decisions was consistent with democratic norms and that the provincial government intended to proceed accordingly.