Sohail Afridi meeting with Imran Khan will not cause a catastrophe: Governor Punjab

WEB DESK: Addressing the press on Friday, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi and Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider held a joint press conference in Peshawar on Friday, during which Sardar Haider downplayed criticism over Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s request for a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan.

“There is nothing wrong with meeting the PTI founder, no catastrophe has occurred,” Haider said, adding that such engagements need not be sensationalised. “We should not make anyone a hero for free,” he remarked, in an apparent reference to political opponents using the meeting for point-scoring.

Haider said the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had been a “nightmare” for the PPP but stressed the need for improved relations between the PPP and the PML-N, calling cooperation between the two essential for political stability. “Our alliance with the PML-N is a necessity, if we don’t work together, the country suffers,” he said.

The Punjab governor also described Maryam Nawaz as a “sister,” saying she “should not have been upset” over recent disagreements. He added that he would take up the issue of wheat supply restrictions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with her.

Haider emphasised that KP’s rights should be secured through dialogue, not confrontation, noting that Punjab had “always acted as the elder brother” in the federation.

He further said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) fully owns the 26th Constitutional Amendment, adding that it would not have been possible without the PPP’s support. However, he noted that he was not aware of any proposed 27th Amendment. Meanwhile, KP Governor Kundi stated that he had advised the newly elected chief minister to form a jirga and approach the federal government to address provincial concerns. He stressed that political differences should take a back seat to the province’s interests and that existing institutional forums should be utilised to raise issues effectively.

Kundi further said that security operations were ongoing across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, driven by intelligence-based actions. “If anyone has an alternative to these intelligence-led operations for improving law and order, they should present it,” he remarked. The governor also claimed that Afghan nationals were involved in several recent incidents of terrorism. Commenting on CM Afridi’s absence from a key meeting, Kundi said he should have attended to present his stance before walking out, rather than skipping the session entirely.

He also expressed optimism that the border would reopen soon, saying he was aware of the difficulties faced by the business community due to its closure. He added that he would contact the federal interior minister to discuss the issue and push for steps to ease restrictions, noting that prolonged disruptions had significantly affected trade and livelihoods in the region.