DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that the law and order situation in the province remains unfavourable, with the Pakistan Army and police engaged in intelligence-based operations.
Speaking to the media, his party Pakistan People’s Party office-bearers, workers, and local dignitaries at his residence, Kundi Model Farm, during an Eidul Fitr gathering, he emphasized that security forces are offering sacrifices and laying down their lives for the nation.
He said that the terror issue was also discussed in the recent National Security Council meeting, which some political parties boycotted, allegedly to pressure the government for political concessions.
The governor criticized certain political elements for demanding the return of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to the National Assembly, questioning whether similar demands were made when other leaders were in jail in the past.
He accused these parties of previously supporting policies they now oppose and seeking an “NRO” when facing difficulties. He also recalled their boycott of the 26th Amendment session, betraying their allied parties.
Kundi stressed the need to separate politics from accountability, stating that individuals facing corruption or illegal activity charges must face courts and that the government will not grant any “NRO.”
Regarding the May 9 violent incidents, the governor pointed out that PTI leaders themselves admitted that their workers were involved.
Kundi questioned whether any other party would have forgiven such actions if it had been targeted. He condemned violent protests, attacks on public property, and hate campaigns against national institutions. Regarding water scarcity in Sindh, the governor termed it a serious issue requiring federal intervention.
He also called for resolving the pending National Finance Commission Award distribution to ensure provinces receive their due financial rights. Discussing security concerns in Dera Ismail Khan, he acknowledged public anxiety, noting that both KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Jamiat Uema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman hail from the region.
Under the 18th Amendment, he stated, law and order is a provincial responsibility, and the chief minister is accountable for ensuring public safety.
Kundi also highlighted Afghanistan’s situation as a major challenge for Pakistan, stating that 80 percent of terrorist activities were linked to Afghanistan, where elements opposing Pakistan and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project existed.
He advocated for regulating Afghan refugees, asserting that no country allows residency without legal documentation, and the same should apply in Pakistan.
Regarding development projects, Kundi questioned the claims of record progress in Dera Ismail Khan, citing the unfulfilled promise of a motorway connecting the city to Peshawar.
He stressed that only visible progress could be acknowledged and urged federal support for provincial development.
The governor said he had discussed with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the initiation of work on the Dera-Chashma Lift Canal before the next fiscal year and imposing Section 144 on 1,600 acres of land near Guloti. He assured that work on the new Dera International Airport was progressing and that there would be no delay in federal projects.