Key points:

  • Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar clarified that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has not been formally taken into custody but is being held under protective guard.
  • The provincial assembly in Peshawar has been temporarily suspended amid the unfolding political crisis.
  • The move comes after escalating confrontations between the CM’s office and federal authorities over allegations of misconduct.
  • Tarar’s statement aims to quell rumors and signal that the federal government is managing the situation within constitutional bounds.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told reporters on Wednesday that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remains free of any arrest warrant; instead, he has been placed in a protective‑custody arrangement to safeguard him while investigations proceed. The minister stressed that the decision was taken to prevent any potential intimidation or violence, and to ensure that due‑process mechanisms are respected.

At the same time, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly has been put on hold, with its legislative business suspended until the political deadlock is resolved. The suspension halts all parliamentary proceedings, including the passage of bills and budget approvals, leaving the province without an active forum for debate and decision‑making.

The latest development follows weeks of mounting tension in the province, where accusations of administrative irregularities and alleged corruption have pitted the provincial leadership against federal agencies. Local opposition parties have called for Afridi’s removal, while his supporters argue that the protective‑custody measure is a pretext to undermine the elected government.

Tarar’s clarification seeks to reassure both the public and political actors that the federal government is not attempting an outright removal of the CM, but is instead pursuing a legal and orderly process. The situation remains fluid, and observers note that the next steps—whether the assembly will reconvene or a formal inquiry will lead to further action—will have significant repercussions for governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and for centre‑province relations across Pakistan.