Summary KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi criticised Governor Faisal Kundi over a security meeting and demanded changes to federal counterterrorism policy amid political tensions.
PESHAWAR (Web Desk) - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has criticised Governor Faisal Karim Kundi for convening a meeting on the province’s security situation, describing it as an unconstitutional step aimed at provoking the provincial government.
Addressing the 60th meeting of the KP cabinet in Peshawar on Wednesday, Afridi said the provincial government, assembly and cabinet were fully functional and that the governor should not hold meetings concerning provincial affairs in a manner that bypassed the elected government.
He said the province had a government with a two-thirds majority and accused the governor of attempting to create a confrontation between constitutional institutions.
Afridi urged provincial officials, including the chief secretary and inspector general of police, to reject any order they considered unlawful or unconstitutional.
At the same time, he called on PTI workers and supporters to remain peaceful and follow the law and Constitution.
The chief minister also criticised the federal government’s approach to counterterrorism, arguing that a change in policy was required to improve security in the province.
He said his government had been working to strengthen the police, Counter-Terrorism Department and Special Branch, while accusing successive federal governments of failing to adequately address the security and financial challenges faced by KP.
Afridi also raised the issue of compensation for families affected by military operations and displacement, claiming that significant amounts remained outstanding. He said the provincial government had allocated billions of rupees to support displaced people.
The chief minister demanded that the federal government increase KP’s share under the National Finance Commission and clear outstanding payments owed to the province.
He argued that despite years of intelligence-based and military operations, terrorism remained a major challenge in KP, and called for a reassessment of the existing counterterrorism strategy.
Afridi said the province could improve its security situation within 100 days if a different approach was adopted and all relevant stakeholders worked together.
Defence minister rejects KP government’s stance
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the PTI-led provincial government, accusing it of failing to give sufficient attention to the worsening security situation while focusing on political activities.
In a statement on social media, Asif referred to recent attacks in Dera Ismail Khan in which five people, including customs officials, were killed.
He questioned the provincial government’s response to the incident and accused its leadership of prioritising political mobilisation over security and governance.
Asif also criticised the KP chief minister for objecting to the provincial police chief and chief secretary attending the governor’s security meeting.
The defence minister said the federal government could not allow an entire province to remain affected by insecurity and accused the KP administration of failing to meet its responsibilities.
The exchange comes amid heightened political tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led KP administration, with disagreements over security policy, provincial autonomy and the opposition’s planned political activities.
