Gandapur absent from PM’s Peshawar visit

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s absence from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official functions during the PM’s visit to Peshawar on Wednesday signals a growing rift between the two parties, which bodes ill for the province. Gandapur had previously stayed away from the prime minister’s oath-taking ceremony as well.

During Shehbaz Sharif’s day-long official visit to Peshawar, where he was received by Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, Gandapur chose to remain absent from the events. This included Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting to assess the damage caused by torrential downpour across the province and the subsequent distribution of relief funds to affected families. Notably, the K-P province was represented by Governor Ghulam Ali, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Provincial President Amir Muqam, and PML-N General Secretary Murtaz Javed Abassi.

Observers fear that this growing discord between the province and the Centre will lead to future complications, ultimately impacting the general public. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his interactions with rain and flood-affected individuals in Peshawar, emphasized the importance of robust planning and institutional structures to address natural disasters.

Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the recent devastating floods and torrential rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which resulted in numerous casualties. He commended the efforts of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, chief secretary, district administrations, and all others involved in the rescue and rehabilitation operations. The prime minister assured that compensation had been distributed to the injured and the families of the deceased.

Gandapur’s absence from PM Shehbaz’s Peshawar visit underscores the widening gulf between provincial and federal powers. The standoff, evident in Gandapur’s deliberate aloofness, hints at deeper political tensions. Such discord risks hampering governance and exacerbating public woes, highlighting the urgent need for reconciliation and collaboration.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2024.