Urdu Report Desk
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has strongly criticised Governor Faisal Karim Kundi for convening a meeting on the province’s security situation, describing the move as unconstitutional and an attack on democracy.
Afridi’s remarks came a day after Governor Kundi held a meeting with the KP chief secretary and inspector general of police to discuss the province’s security situation.
Addressing the 60th meeting of the provincial cabinet in Peshawar, Afridi said the governor had staged a “drama” by calling the meeting and termed the move unconstitutional.
He said it was unacceptable for the governor to convene such a meeting while a provincial government with a two-thirds majority was fully functional.
Afridi said the provincial assembly, cabinet and government were intact and functioning, calling the governor’s action an attack on the Constitution and democracy.
Call for Peaceful Conduct
The chief minister alleged that the governor’s “unconstitutional activities” were aimed at provoking the provincial government and forcing it to react.
However, he urged PTI workers to remain peaceful and follow the law and Constitution.
Afridi also told the chief secretary and inspector general of police not to comply with any unconstitutional or illegal order unless it was issued by him.
He said the people and administration of KP had made countless sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and warned that forcing anyone to follow an unconstitutional order could harm the province or the country.
Criticism of PPP
The chief minister also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party, to which Governor Kundi belongs.
Afridi blamed former president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and General Yahya Khan for the separation of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
He also accused President Asif Ali Zardari of intending to create another East Pakistan in the country.
Afridi said no conspiracy to break up Pakistan would be allowed to succeed, alleging that prioritising personal interests over national interests had been a practice of the PPP in the past.
Political Tensions Rise Amid Long March
The chief minister’s remarks came amid heightened tensions between the Centre and the PTI-led opposition, with the PTI continuing its long march despite warnings from the Centre of possible action.
Hours-long talks between a joint government and PPP delegation and the opposition alliance ended without an agreement over the weekend, with both sides blaming each other for the failure of the negotiations.
Political tensions have also increased amid speculation about the possible imposition of governor’s rule in KP. Governor Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had discussed the matter on Sunday.
Call for Counterterrorism Policy Shift
Afridi also reiterated his objections to the federal government’s counterterrorism policy and defended his government’s efforts to support the police in the fight against terrorism.
He said terrorism had once again been imposed on KP and maintained that the PTI-led provincial government had consistently supported the police and people of the province.
Afridi said that since taking oath on October 15, 2025, he had been working to strengthen the police, Counter-Terrorism Department and Special Branch.
According to the chief minister, KP police have the most modern weapons and equipment compared with other police forces in Pakistan.
Financial Rights for KP Demanded
Afridi accused the federal government of treating KP unfairly, saying the tribal districts were merged into the province in 2018 but had not yet been fully integrated financially.
He said the financial rights agreed upon at the time of the merger had still not been provided.
The chief minister claimed that federal governments had continuously carried out military operations in KP since 2004 and that people displaced as a result had still not received full compensation.
He said around Rs100 billion in compensation remained outstanding, while people whose homes were destroyed and families and mosques affected were still waiting for compensation.
Afridi said compensation of only Rs400,000 per household had been fixed for tribal families, but even the promised amount had not been paid.
Baka Khel Camp Dues
The chief minister said displaced people at the Baka Khel camp in North Waziristan had been promised between Rs370 million and Rs380 million per month, but the amount was still not being provided.
He said it was the provincial government’s responsibility to stand with people affected by federal government policies and added that the provincial government had provided Rs21 billion for displaced people.
Afridi said the provincial government also had to bear responsibility for losses caused by military operations and collateral damage resulting from drone attacks.
He demanded that the federal government increase KP’s share under the National Finance Commission and pay around Rs125 billion in outstanding dues to the province.
100-Day Peace Claim
Afridi said the KP government and police were serious about maintaining law and order but criticised the practice of assigning police officers other duties and treating them as personal servants.
He claimed that peace could be established in KP within 100 days if the policy proposed by the province’s relevant stakeholders was followed.
The chief minister questioned why peace had not been established despite 14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations over 22 years.
He described the situation as a failure of federal policy and said the government should change its counterterrorism policy if it was serious about resolving the issue.
Afridi rejected the argument that KP was not cooperating, saying the same federal policy had also failed to establish peace in Balochistan.
He reiterated that a policy shift was necessary and maintained that KP could establish peace within 100 days.
Criticism of Maryam Nawaz
Afridi also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over her remarks that Punjab faced no threat from India.
He criticised the statement in the context of the state narrative regarding the presence of Indian proxies in Pakistan and what has been described as Fitna al Hindustan.
Khawaja Asif Criticises PTI Government
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the PTI-led KP government, accusing it of indifference towards terrorism in the province.
In a post on X, Asif said “enough is enough” and alleged that the PTI provincial government was taking part in a political long march while a fresh wave of terrorism had affected the people of KP.
The defence minister referred to Tuesday’s attacks in Dera Ismail Khan, in which five people, including customs officials, were killed.
Asif said the provincial cabinet and chief minister had remained silent on the matter while being occupied with the political long march.
He alleged that the provincial government had neither condemned the killings nor offered condolences to the affected families, attended the funerals or visited their homes.
The defence minister said the chief minister had instead called a meeting to question the chief secretary and inspector general over their participation in the governor’s security meeting.
Asif accused the provincial government of leaving the people of the terrorism-hit province at the mercy of terrorists.
He also alleged that the provincial government was in collusion with terrorists and claimed that evidence of such an alleged network was available.
The defence minister said the country’s unity could not be put at risk and that an entire province could not be held hostage.
He concluded by saying that the time had come to take crucial decisions.
Read more
Zardari-Shehbaz Meeting Expected Soon as Governor’s Rule, Emergency Options in KP – urdureport.com
