Faisal Kundi confirms consultations on governor’s rule in KP, says PTI ‘may end’ long march

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi said on Friday that consultations had taken place on imposing governor’s rule in the province, as heightened security measures were being put in place ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned September 27 march on Islamabad.

Kundi suggested PTI could announce an end to its planned long march as early as today or tomorrow, while questioning the party’s preparations for the protest. “If they hold a long march, who will run the province?” he asked, arguing that the provincial government could not function if its leadership and lawmakers left to join the protest.

The remarks came as authorities in Islamabad and Punjab tightened security ahead of the planned demonstration. The Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province from September 23 to October 5, banning gatherings of five or more people, rallies, demonstrations and assemblies at public places, highways and open spaces.

The federal government has also approved the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Islamabad and four Punjab districts, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali, until October 5. The deployment was authorised under the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, to assist local administrations and police in maintaining law and order.

The Punjab government has requested three Rangers companies for Rawalpindi, five wings for Attock, and one company each for Jhelum and Mianwali. Authorities have also sought army deployment in Rawalpindi, while more than 43,000 police personnel have been deployed across Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal.

The Punjab Home Department said the security measures followed intelligence warnings of possible attacks involving suicide bombers, vehicle-borne explosives and target killings, with political gatherings identified as potential targets. Authorities have also announced planned closures on sections of the M-1, M-14 and GT Road, while restrictions have been placed on heavy and cargo vehicles travelling towards Islamabad on the M-2.

Kundi said consultations on governor’s rule had taken place but did not identify those involved or indicate whether a decision had been made. “Governor’s rule has been imposed in the past; it is not an unconstitutional step,” he said.

PTI leaders, meanwhile, have reaffirmed their intention to proceed with the march, describing it as a constitutional right and saying the protest would remain peaceful.

Kundi also alleged that PTI workers were volunteering to be arrested and claimed the KP government wanted to turn the police into a “Tiger Force.”

Speaking at the Peshawar ceremony, he separately praised pharmacists as “an important pillar of the healthcare system” and called for improved access to quality medicines, stronger action against counterfeit drugs and greater emphasis on practical and technology-focused training.