MQM founder and leader Altaf Hussain has condemned the involvement of the Pakistan Army in the political and military affairs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan, reports 24brussels. In his 328th public address on TikTok, he addressed ongoing issues around the province’s Chief Minister and the current military operations.

Hussain stated that Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had directed Chief Minister Gandapur to negotiate with the army regarding military operations and to cease drone strikes targeting the Pashtun community. According to Hussain, Gandapur failed to adhere to this directive, allowing the army to operate without political obstruction.

Just two days prior to Hussain’s remarks, Imran Khan had dismissed Gandapur and appointed young MPA Sohail Afridi from Khyber Agency as the new Chief Minister. Hussain accused the establishment of launching a smear campaign against Afridi, which was followed by a press briefing from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. Chaudhry indicated that the army would not tolerate a Chief Minister who did not support military actions or comply with army directives.

Hussain expressed concern over the army’s role in determining the political leadership of the province, questioning whether such responsibility lay with the military instead of elected political parties. He also criticized a recent airstrike by the Pakistan Army in Afghanistan, which was described by the Afghan government as an incursion upon its airspace. He highlighted the army’s operations against both Imran Khan and the citizens of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, noting the loss of innocent lives in Balochistan and the emergence of new conflicts in Afghanistan. He warned that these military actions could foster resentment among the Afghan people and called for a reassessment of the army’s strategy.