PESHAWAR — In a sharp rebuttal to the provincial government’s narrative, the Opposition Leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah Khan, stated on Tuesday that the federal government owes no outstanding dues to the province under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.
Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club, the PML-N leader accused Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of using the “non-payment” narrative as a political tool to distract from provincial governance failures.
The NFC Dispute: Two Sides of the Coin
The friction between Islamabad and Peshawar centers on trillions of rupees in alleged arrears. While the opposition claims the slate is clean, the provincial government insists on massive pending liabilities.
| Head of Account | Provincial Claim (CM Afridi) | Federal/Opposition Stance |
| Total NFC Share | Rs 4.75 trillion (historical arrears) | No dues pending; Rs 46.44bn released Dec 17, 2025. |
| Merged Districts | Rs 1.37 trillion outstanding | Rs 704bn provided since 2019 from Federal share. |
| Net Hydel Profit | Rs 2.2 trillion in unpaid profit/interest | Regular payments ongoing; historical reconciliations pending. |
| War on Terror | Claims additional support is needed | Rs 705bn paid since 2010 (1% of divisible pool). |
Political “Wisdom” vs. Street Agitation
Dr. Ibadullah highlighted the recent meeting between CM Afridi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, calling it a tacit acceptance of the PM’s mandate.
- The Meeting: The CM met the PM to discuss provincial rights, a move the opposition termed “wise” for avoiding political topics like Adiala Jail during official business.
- The “Bara Jirga”: Dr. Ibadullah criticized the CM’s gathering in Bara, labeling it a “political rally” rather than a legitimate jirga. He alleged the CM is “doing politics” over the Tirah Valley displacement to gain public sympathy.
- Feb 8 Protest: The opposition leader dismissed the PTI’s planned protest for February 8 (marking the 2nd anniversary of the 2024 elections), claiming even party workers are unclear on its purpose beyond “harming people through shutdowns.”
The Daesh fighters recently killed near Peshawar were en route to Tirah Valley. The so-called “evacuation” of residents in the middle of winter was meant to allow ISIS movement undetected, but the plan has been exposed, and the hunt will now intensify.
Many people doubt these… pic.twitter.com/43mXlUxvdx
— The Sure Path (@thesurepath1) February 4, 2026
The Tirah Valley Conflict
The controversy revolves around the recent displacement of residents in the Tirah Valley:
- Provincial Stance: CM Afridi alleges “forced displacement” by the federation under the guise of an operation and has threatened a march on Islamabad.
- Opposition Stance: Dr. Ibadullah claims the operation was approved by the Apex Committee chaired by the CM himself, and that provincial authorities (DC Khyber) signed the agreement.
“Climbing onto a vehicle with a group of four people… will neither solve problems nor produce any positive outcome. The CM should focus on delivery, not mobilization.” — Dr. Ibadullah Khan
The Chief Minister has announced he will convene a “Grand Jirga” before finalizing a date for his march on Islamabad. Would you like me to keep you updated on the outcome of that jirga and any potential federal response?
This video provides expert political analysis on the internal debates within the PTI leadership regarding their street movement strategy and the significance of the upcoming February 8 protests.
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