Kundi dares PTI marchers to cross Swabi, vows to hold security meetings

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday vowed to continue holding meetings on the province’s security situation and challenged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) marchers to cross Swabi, dismissing the protest led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi as a “circus”.

He also defended his decision to chair a meeting with the chief secretary and police chief to review the province’s security situation after Sohail Afridi criticised the huddle as unconstitutional.

Addressing a press conference at the Governor House, Kundi said the meeting had been convened to review the law and order situation in the province, arguing that someone had to take responsibility while the chief minister was occupied with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march on Islamabad.

The remarks came amid escalating tensions between the federal government, the governor and the PTI-led provincial government as the party’s long march, launched from Lakki Marwat on October 4 to demand the release of its jailed founder Imran Khan, continued towards Peshawar. The convoy entered Peshawar on October 8 after several days on the road. The long march is set to move towards Charsadda on Friday evening before reaching Swabi on October 11.

Kundi said that he would continue to convene security meetings, maintaining that the province’s deteriorating law and order situation required attention regardless of the political confrontation.

He said the provincial police were facing a severe shortage of resources and described the security challenges as serious. Comparing the difficulties confronting the force with the threats it faced, he said the police were being expected to confront heavily armed attackers with limited weaponry.

The governor said that the PTI government was unwilling to discuss terrorism, but insisted that the issue could not be ignored.

“The PTI does not want to talk about terrorism, but we will talk about it,” he said.

Kundi challenges PTI to cross Swabi

Taking aim at the PTI’s protest march, Kundi said the party should first demonstrate that it could cross Swabi rather than make claims about marching on Islamabad.

“Their hearts start pounding when they even turn towards Swabi,” he said, challenging the PTI protesters to cross the area.

The governor questioned the march’s planning and claimed that PTI leaders and workers had disappeared from the scene.

He said the party’s campaign did not appear to have the momentum its leadership had promised.

Kundi has previously questioned the PTI’s ability to carry out its planned march and challenged the party to cross Swabi, a key point on its proposed route towards the federal capital.

Calling the protest a “circus” rather than a long march, he criticised the PTI provincial leadership and said the chief minister should focus on governance and administrative responsibilities.

He said Afridi had claimed that all powers rested with him and challenged him to use those powers to address the province’s problems.

“If you say all the powers are with you, then get the work done,” Kundi said.

He accused the chief minister of failing to protect members of his own provincial assembly and questioned how the provincial government could safeguard the wider population if it could not protect its own lawmakers.

Kundi also criticised the provincial government over strikes by teachers and doctors, alleging that the chief minister was failing to address the concerns of public-sector employees.

He said the provincial government could not run the province without cooperation from the federal government and accused it of failing to effectively communicate its administrative difficulties to Islamabad.

“If you cannot even tell the federation about the province’s problems and then complain that nobody listens to you, it means you are incompetent,” he said.

The governor also alleged that the chief minister was more interested in making money than governing the province. These remarks were part of his broader criticism of the PTI-led administration.

Governor warns against Governor House threats

Kundi also responded to threats by PTI supporters to surround the Governor House, warning that he would deal with anyone attempting to do so.

“Those threatening to surround the Governor House in Peshawar will have to deal with me,” he said, adding that he knew how to defend the building.

Addressing the PTI’s leadership, he asked where those issuing threats would go when confronted and accused the PTI of failing to stand by its own people.

The governor further criticised the provincial government’s handling of the security situation, saying the police lacked adequate resources to deal with the threats confronting the province.

He said the provincial administration should operate in accordance with the Constitution rather than according to its own preferences.

Kundi also referred to an offer of negotiations by Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, alleging that Afridi was following the advice of party leaders rather than exercising independent political judgment.

He compared the PTI’s internal disagreements to people who worked together while committing a theft but fell out when it came to dividing the proceeds.

Kundi accuses Afridi of lacking plan to tackle terrorism

Kundi accused Sohail Afridi of having no plan for the province, alleging that his policies could leave the region vulnerable to terrorism.

“If you have no plan for the province, why do you complain about decisions being made behind closed doors?” Kundi said, criticising the chief minister’s handling of provincial affairs.

He accused Afridi of wanting to hand the province over to terrorists, saying he would not allow that to happen under any circumstances.

“Do the people of my province not deserve peace?” the governor asked, insisting that the fight against terrorism remained a priority in his engagements with political and government officials.

Kundi said that whenever he met anyone in his capacity as governor, the fight against terrorism was always on the agenda.

He also questioned Afridi’s political position within the PTI, alleging that people around the chief minister were waiting for him to leave office so they could take his place.

The governor said that he saw no light at the end of the tunnel for the PTI, adding that Afridi should resign on moral grounds.

“We will protect our province against terrorism,” he said.

Kundi again challenged Afridi and PTI marchers to reach Swabi, saying the chief minister should demonstrate his ability to lead the march.

“If you have even an ounce of courage, show up in Swabi tomorrow,” he said.