A detailed and tense debate took place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly over drone attacks, the security situation, and the issue of missing persons, during which Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed serious concerns over existing policies.

Addressing the house, the Chief Minister said the session was specifically convened to discuss drone attacks, but according to him, military operations are no longer a solution to the problem.

He alleged that decisions are being made behind closed doors and that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is continuously being used as a testing ground.

Sohail Afridi stated that whenever political activities begin in the province, the situation is deliberately destabilized, while innocent civilians are losing their lives as “collateral damage” in drone strikes and operations.

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He said that drone attacks usually do not target residences of high-ranking officials but instead affect ordinary civilian populations, and when questions are raised, the response is often limited to “I’m sorry.”

The Chief Minister also said that under the Action in Aid of Civil Power law, several individuals have been made missing, while affected families—especially women—have been waiting for years for the return of their loved ones.

He revealed that the government had written multiple letters requesting a list of 970 alleged militants, but the list has not yet been provided, creating legal and administrative challenges.

Sohail Afridi further stated that the government is working on introducing a new law against “collateral damage” to ensure the protection of civilian lives.

He told the assembly that drones had also been flying over his own residence, and he clearly warned that if the drones are not stopped, they will be shot down.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that even an MPA was stopped at a security checkpoint by a soldier for card verification, raising questions about security protocols and the treatment of elected representatives.

He added that the opposition is also standing with the government on this issue, and there has been a demand to immediately convene a security committee meeting.

Sohail Afridi concluded by saying that he neither fears for his life nor his position, emphasizing that he did not reach this office through lobbying but is raising his voice in the public interest.