KP Governor Kundi fires back at Fazl over rejection of governor’s rule

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday expressed disappointment in Peshawar over JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s opposition to governor’s rule in the province.

Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, Kundi defended the federal government’s move and urged Fazl to support the new administration.

Why is KP Governor Kundi disappointed with Fazl?

Kundi said Fazl had earlier complained that security under the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was so poor he could not move freely in his own constituency. He called Fazl a seasoned and astute politician but said his recent remarks were disappointing. A new government, he said, had formed without JUI-F’s representation.

Defending the change in the province’s administration, Kundi noted that this came despite Fazl’s past assertions that no government could be formed or function without his involvement. He urged Fazl to support the new administration, saying the priority should be peace, stability and development rather than political confrontation.

What has Fazl said about governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

Fazl has described the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an assault on democracy and people’s rights. He vowed to challenge the measures through parliament and the courts.

He has also questioned the government’s justification for the move, arguing that repeated military operations had failed to deliver lasting security and that the authorities should address shortcomings in their counterterrorism policies.

Kundi rejected comparisons between the security situations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, saying Balochistan’s chief minister was working with the state in the fight against terrorism.

“Balochistan has the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while there are terrorist groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well,” he said. He added that the former PTI-led provincial government had lacked the resolve to combat terrorism.

What does the new KP administration plan to do?

Kundi said restoring law and order was the government’s foremost priority and that there would be no compromise on the writ of the state. He pledged substantial investment in the police and said 10 to 12 insurgency-affected districts would be developed into model districts for peace and security.

The governor also invited foreign investors to invest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral sector, saying the extraction of mineral resources could help improve living standards and promote economic development.

“If the province has mineral resources, they should be extracted and used for the development and prosperity of its people,” he said, adding that some people did not want the province’s residents to prosper.

Kundi further said the new administration would retain beneficial initiatives introduced during PTI’s tenure while discontinuing measures it considered ineffective. He called on Fazl to join efforts to promote peace and prosperity in the province, saying those responsible for undermining security would no longer be allowed to dictate its future.