PM Shehbaz assures full support to CM Sohail Afridi in first phone call

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated Sohail Afridi on taking charge as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sohail Afridi took the oath of office in a ceremony held in Peshawar on Wednesday. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath, and a large number of party workers were present at the event.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had a telephonic conversation after the ceremony.

During the call, the prime minister congratulated him on his election and expressed his full support for the new provincial government.

“The federal government is ready to work with you in the interest of Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that Pakistan will not tolerate any misuse of the 48-hour ceasefire agreed with Afghanistan’s Taliban government. He said the Taliban should not use the temporary truce as a tactic to gain time.

The prime minister shared that the Afghan Taliban had requested the ceasefire on Tuesday after Pakistan’s precise military strikes in Kabul and Kandahar caused heavy losses to their side.

He added that this was not the first time such a request came — a similar appeal was made earlier on Sunday following Pakistan’s swift and strong response along the border.

Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to reduce tensions. He appreciated Qatar’s role in helping both sides find a peaceful and fair solution.

His statement came after Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, spoke with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the regional security situation.

Read More: 50 Khawarij killed in Mohmand as forces foil infiltration attempt amid ceasefire