Governor Kundi questions KP govt’s progress on National Action Plan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday accused the provincial government of neglecting governance, rising terrorism and public grievances while focusing on what he termed a “Lucky Irani Circus”, urging it to prioritise law and order and the elimination of militancy.
Addressing a press conference at the Governor’s House, Mr Kundi criticised the provincial government’s response to the deteriorating security situation and called for an explanation of the progress made on implementing the National Action Plan (NAP).
He thanked the people of KP for turning the march into a “Lucky Irani Circus”, alleging that political leaders returned to their homes while leaving their workers on the streets. He said the province was facing serious security challenges while the chief minister remained preoccupied with other activities.
The governor said militants were targeting civilians, police personnel, the armed forces and other security officials, but alleged that the provincial government had failed to take a clear and firm position against them.
“Terrorism is the biggest challenge facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said, stressing that the government must take effective measures to restore peace and strengthen security. He said the sacrifices of police personnel and security forces could not be ignored and questioned the lack of an effective response from the provincial administration.
Mr Kundi said he supported dialogue but maintained that terrorism was a red line on which no compromise was possible. Referring to past proposals for establishing an office for militants in Peshawar, he said opposition to military operations against terrorists in the province amounted to an “anti-state narrative”.
Highlighting the challenges facing law enforcement agencies, the governor claimed that around 17,000 posts in the KP police were vacant and called for their immediate filling.
He said the police required Rs42 billion, whereas only Rs1.2 billion had been provided, and urged the provincial government to allocate adequate resources to strengthen policing and counterterrorism efforts.
He also called for enhancing the operational capacity of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), adding that construction of seven police lines and police stations in the merged districts had made no progress. He further pointed out the absence of Safe City projects in the merged districts and other sensitive areas.
Commenting on the ongoing march, the governor urged participants to abide by the law and cooperate with the relevant authorities. He called for effective measures to prevent the illegal movement of weapons and drugs during political activity.
He said no one should be allowed to violate the law in the name of politics and urged political leaders to consider the safety of their workers and the difficulties faced by the public.
Warning against a recurrence of the May 9, 2023, violence, he said any attempt to repeat such incidents would invite strict action in accordance with the law.
The governor also questioned the provincial government’s ability to protect public interests, asking how it could safeguard the rights and resources of the province if it could not ensure the security of its own ministers. He called on Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to resign, saying he should demonstrate moral courage.
Responding to a question about his constitutional powers, Mr Kundi advised the provincial government to study the Constitution to understand the governor’s authority and responsibilities.
He said he would summon the chief secretary and inspector general of police whenever necessary to discuss the province’s problems, adding that those who questioned his authority should revisit the relevant constitutional provisions and laws.
He described protests by doctors, teachers and tehsil municipal administration employees as a matter of concern for the provincial government and urged it to resolve their legitimate demands through negotiations.
Mr Kundi also called for immediate action to address rising flour prices, terrorism and other public grievances, saying the provision of relief and maintenance of law and order were fundamental responsibilities of the government.
Asked about the possibility of governor’s rule in the province, he said it would be imposed whenever the president and the prime minister considered it appropriate.