Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that provincial policies will now be determined in Islamabad rather than Jalalabad or Kandahar, pledging full implementation of decisions made by the federal government as he outlined plans to strengthen policing, support security institutions and address the province’s security challenges.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Kundi said the federal government had placed its trust in him and that policies issued by Islamabad would be implemented in full. His remarks came amid heightened political tensions and renewed debate over the province’s law-and-order situation.
The governor criticized the recent political activity in the province, describing it as a “circus” that had continued for days. He claimed the public had grown tired of the spectacle and rejected what he called the politics of hatred and extremism.
Referring to containers used during protests, Kundi said they had been left unattended and that he was waiting for someone to collect them. He also said he was waiting for those who had threatened to surround the Governor House.
Security Policy and Support for Law Enforcement
Kundi said the province had to address what he described as 13 years of accumulated problems, adding that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. He warned that any vandalism would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He also raised concerns about the circulation of misleading material on social media, alleging that AI-generated videos and old photographs were being used to create confusion and give a false impression of unrest.
The governor assured the Pakistan Army, police, Frontier Corps (FC) and other law enforcement agencies of his full support, emphasizing that their operational needs would be addressed.
Police and CTD Capacity to Be Strengthened
Kundi said strengthening the capacity of the KP police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) would be a priority. He claimed the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial government had failed to effectively pursue the province’s financial demands with the federal government.
He said a demand of Rs42 billion for the KP police had not been met and questioned how funds previously provided to the province had been spent. He also pledged to bring police salaries in line with those in other provinces and increase the compensation package for personnel killed in the line of duty.
The governor said Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had provided 10 vehicles to the KP police that day. He added that the requirements of all security institutions would be met, although details of the vehicles and the broader resource-allocation plan were not provided in the statement.
Prime Minister and President Expected to Visit KP
Kundi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari would visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa soon to discuss the province’s problems. He said he would present the province’s case to the two leaders during their visits.
Addressing the political situation, the governor claimed that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was in government custody and said any cases against him would be handled according to the law.
Referring to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Kundi said a decision had been taken to release individuals against whom no cases were registered. Further details about the individuals concerned and the implementation of the decision were not immediately available.
Appeal to Doctors, Traders and the Public
The governor urged young doctors to end their strike immediately, saying their grievances would be addressed. He warned that anyone who failed to respect their faculty would face consequences, stressing the importance of maintaining respect within the medical profession.
Kundi also pledged to address the concerns of the business community, acknowledging the difficulties traders faced because of border-related restrictions. However, he maintained that national security remained the top priority.
He said containers had been removed in Islamabad and expressed hope that all blocked routes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would also be reopened within a day or two, easing movement for residents and businesses.
