Prime Minister’s Coordinator for KP Affairs and Information, Ikhtiyar Wali Khan, has alleged that narcotics are being cultivated on land reportedly associated with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi. He presented video footage as evidence during a press conference held on Sunday in Peshawar, escalating political tensions within the province.
Allegations of Large-Scale Cannabis Cultivation
Ikhtiyar Wali claimed that 3,500 acres of land in Khyber district were being used for cannabis cultivation. He stated that the public already knows the land belongs to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. According to Wali, narcotics smuggling from the district continues unchecked, despite past administrations also failing to curb drug production and trafficking.
He accused several PTI members and office-bearers of involvement in the illegal trade. Wali further alleged that the money generated from narcotics is being funneled toward anti-state activities and terrorism. He insisted that the narcotics operations were happening “right under the chief minister’s nose, in his own constituency.”
Calls for Resignation and Questions Over Smuggling Network
The coordinator demanded that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi resign on moral grounds. He added that anyone whose vehicle had been caught in drug smuggling should also step down immediately. Continuing his criticism, Ikhtiyar Wali questioned whether the profits from drug trafficking were being circulated solely within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or reaching “all the way to Bani Gala.”
The allegations have added significant pressure on the provincial government. No official response from Chief Minister Sohail Afridi or his administration had been issued at the time of the statements, and the claims remain politically charged accusations pending verification.
