War of words between Kundi, Gandapur heats up

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The war of words between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur escalated on Saturday as the two individuals holding coveted positions threatened each other with dire consequences.

Talking to reporters after administering oath to the newly elected office-bearers of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, Dera Ismail Khan bench, Gandapur termed the governor a usurper, asking him to remain within his limits. The chief minister asked the governor not to make political statements or the provincial government would deprive him of the official vehicle and fuel. Gandapur said the governor should thank him for getting this coveted position, adding that Kundi’s status was worth one letter. “I will shift you to a two-room annexe,” Gandapur said, adding that “you have nothing to do with politics”.

The CM said he was not afraid of the governor’s rule in KP. However, if it was imposed, the people would occupy both the Governor’s House and CM House as only people’s rule is permissible in the province, he added.

In a tit-for-tat response, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, while speaking at a function in his hometown, asked the chief minister to hold his tongue. “I know how to deal with people like you,” Kundi said. “I will drag you on the roads,” said the governor, adding that the ones, who were reluctant to apologise, would have to tender an apology.

Earlier, speaking at the oath-taking ceremony, Chief Minister Gandapur said the provincial government was working to strengthen the judiciary to provide quick justice to the citizens.

The chief minister was given the honourary membership of the association.

Congratulating the newly elected office-bearers of the association, the chief minister said lawyers should play their role to uphold the rule of law and Constitution.

He said the number of the judges at various courts would be increased by 100 to clear the backlog of cases. It was the primary responsibility of the lawyers to help provide justice to the people and uphold the rule of law in the country. The chief minister said all stakeholders, including lawyers, should help the government improve the existing system.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not a poor province and was rich in natural resources. He said though KP was producing cheap hydel power, it was compelled to buy expensive electricity. KP produced more electricity than its consumption, but its residents were facing the worst loadshedding. He said the Water and Power Development Authority would have to provide relief to the people of KP in loadshedding.

Gandapur said his government was striving to get its due rights from the federal government, urging the lawyers community to help the government in this regard. He said it was the joint responsibility of all and sundry to make efforts for the rights of the province.

The chief minister said the government had started the process of bringing reforms in all sectors. He assured the lawyers community that the provincial government would spare no effort to resolve their problems on priority basis. He lauded the members of Insaf Lawyers Forum, saying its members stood by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership at critical times.

Meanwhile, speaking at a function, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Saturday that they were not fond of imposing governor’s rule in the province. “The KP chief minister is afraid of the governor, not governor’s rule in the province. He should serve the masses in a true sense instead of issuing threatening statements to the federal government and state,” Kundi said while addressing a reception hosted in his honour here.

The governor said Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari trusted him and that he would try his best to come up to his expectations. “I would work for the betterment of the province instead of indulging in political confrontation,” he said.

About Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement about the governor’s rule in the province, Kundi said his political opponents were worried about their own incompetence, which was why they were spreading rumours about such a system.

“You are the chief minister and now serve the people and work for their welfare instead of indulging in politics of conspiracies and hatred,” he told Gandapur. He also warned the chief minister against ‘occupying’ the Governor’s House and said that he knew how to safeguard his abode. “Come if you want to occupy the Governor’s House, but remember you will be dragged on the streets,” he warned.

He pledged that he would play a role as a bridge between the province and the Federation as they had the supreme objective to serve the people.

On another occasion, the governor taunted the chief minister that they could not get their founder leader [Imran Khan] free from jail. He said that talks could not be held with those who do not obey the Constitution, adding that those who refused to seek an apology, would have to do that.