Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Ahmad Khan Afridi on Sunday accused Pakistan’s federal government of misrepresenting recent remarks by the son of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, 24NewsHD TV reported.
Speaking at a press conference, Afridi said the federal government had deliberately given a “wrong colour” to comments made days earlier by Kasim Khan, the son of Imran Khan, saying the comments were being falsely linked to the European Union’s GSP+.
“I had the remarks translated into Urdu, and even had them translated so that the fake federal government could understand them,” Afridi said.
“This was the sentiment of a son for his father, a person who has nothing to do with politics.”
Afridi rejected suggestions that Qasim Khan’s comments could jeopardize Pakistan’s GSP+ standing.
“If Pakistan is removed from GSP+, it will be because of the actions of this fake government,” he said, alleging that Islamabad itself was violating the commitments attached to the EU trade framework.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister accused the federal government of undermining democracy, suppressing dissent and violating human rights since last year’s general election.
He said the February 8 election had been marred by “vote theft,” calling it an assault on democracy.
He claimed the public had effectively delivered a mandate of more than 180 seats in favour of the PTI founder, whom he described as “our prime minister.”