Sohail Afridi’s disqualification process has begun: Faisal Vawda

Senator Faisal Vawda has urged for complete change in Pakistan’s political system and said that the new team must prove its success within 180 days with no chance of failure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The process of disqualifying Sohail Afridi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has commenced, the senator said.

Vawda said he stood by every word of his news conference earlier this week. “Anyone who speaks against Pakistan will face serious consequences,” he warned and underlined that no province was the personal jurisdiction of anyone.

The senator attacked the country’s democratic system, citing ongoing public problems such toddlers who die falling into open sewers. He asked what democracy had to offer regular people, saying that the system had been weakened by bad democratic practices, but that a better type of democracy was feasible.

Vawda said rebooting democracy was about reforming the system as a whole and not abandoning democracy. He said the democratic process will continue but needed major reforms and better governance.

He added the new team in KP would be given 180 days to establish its efficacy. He said if the present team did not produce, better performers would be brought in, adding that failure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not an option.

Vawda maintained his prior comments regarding a probable ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) saying he had suggested the possibility 10 months ago and it might yet prove right.

The senator questioned the protest strategy of PTI and estimated the number of participants in the party’s demonstration at around 600.

He emphasised the need for structural reform, accountability and measurable performance, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and his statements have rekindled the debate on the country’s democratic governance and political opposition.