Newly elected Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Sohail Afridi, in his maiden address to the provincial assembly, declared that he had not become chief minister through any political legacy or powerful family background but through his personal struggle and hard work. He said he comes from a tribal district where his family has no political history or influence.
Addressing the house, Sohail Afridi said he is grateful to his party leader for the trust placed in him. “My family belongs to a modest household in the tribal areas. Neither my father nor my brothers nor any relative is a politician. My name does not carry Zardari, Bhutto, or Sharif with it, and simply attaching a big name to yourself does not make you a leader,” he said.
He added that he has been a part of protest politics for years and has nothing to lose. “I have no luxury cars, no palaces, no money, and no greed for power. I will remain the same person I am today. The moment my leader asks, I’ll kick this chair away without hesitation.”
Afridi said that after his name was announced, a certain mindset attempted to demean the tribal people. “The tribes have always made sacrifices. They are not meant to be kept behind or to have their resources exploited. My people are proud to see one of their own in this position,” he added.
The newly elected chief minister further stated that it was time to show how rigging took place during the February 8 elections. “We will investigate how our constituencies were robbed on election day and make everything public,” he said.
He warned that if the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is removed or sidelined without consultation with the party and his family, there would be a strong nationwide response. “No one should think I will abandon the party’s ideology after assuming this position. That is a misconception. I have already started taking steps for our leader’s release.”
It is worth noting that Mohammad Sohail Afridi has been elected as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the opposition staged a walkout during the voting. The assembly session was chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, and Afridi secured 90 votes to become the leader of the house.
