Kundi advises Sohail Afridi to call off Islamabad march

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Sunday advised Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to call off the proposed march on Islamabad, saying the province was facing a worsening security situation and “we are picking up bodies every day”.

“Marching on Islamabad in such circumstances is not appropriate. The outcome of the Islamabad march will be zero,” Kundi said while speaking about the PTI’s proposed protest march and law and order situation in the province.

Talking to the media in Peshawar, he said the date for the march could be changed again, describing it as a case of “a date after a date”.

“Whether Sohail Afridi is going or someone else is coming, only the party spokespersons can tell,” the governor said.

Kundi said talks about imposing governor’s rule had been held several times over the past two years.

He said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of both the federal and provincial governments and stressed that all stakeholders needed to work together to restore peace in the province.

“If we all sit together and work, peace can be established in the province,” he said, adding that the army, civilians and security institutions had also come under attack.

“There is no resolution when the army, civilians and security institutions are attacked,” Kundi said.

He also accused Afghanistan of facilitating terrorists, without providing further details.

The governor said he had invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Peshawar after meeting him in the interest of the province.

“I told the prime minister to convene a cabinet meeting and an Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar regarding the law and order situation,” he said.

Kundi also said he would accept any resignation submitted to him. “If someone’s resignation comes, I will accept it,” he said.

Earlier, Sohail Afridi said that PTI’s long march would now leave Peshawar on October 4, saying the party’s political committee had unanimously decided to postpone the September 27 march and announced a revised schedule.

“Our long march will depart from Peshawar on October 4,” Afridi said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar.

He said the party’s struggle was aimed at restoring the Constitution and alleged that the government was not respecting constitutional and legal provisions.