'K-P can't legalise poppy cultivation'

Governor Kundi warns of stern action if 'politics of confrontation' persists

PESHAWAR:

Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has said that legalising the cultivation of opium does not fall within the jurisdiction of the provincial government, terming it a federal subject.

Talking to the media, the governor said that even if the province wanted to, it could not declare opium cultivation legal, warning that tomorrow laws might be introduced to give legal cover to smuggling and other illegal activities if such a precedent were set.

Governor Kundi said he recently met Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Karachi, where they discussed the political situation in K-P and party organisational matters. He added that a party committee would soon visit the province to review the organisational setup.

Criticising the PTI-led provincial government, the governor said that the party and the provincial administration appeared to be "operating from Adiala," alleging that former prime minister Imran Khan should be shifted from Punjab to another province. He accused the previous chief minister of promoting abusive politics and failing to deliver anything meaningful for the province, adding that the current situation had severely damaged the health and education sectors.

The governor stressed that rights of the province could only be secured through collective efforts. "I have offered that we jointly approach the federation to demand the province's due rights, but the provincial government's only priority seems to be the release of its founding chairman," he said.

On the issue of governor's rule, Faisal Karim Kundi said it depended entirely on the conduct of the provincial government. "If governor's rule is imposed, no one will even be able to reach the Governor House. We do not just make statements; we prove things through action," he warned.

He further said that if politics of confrontation continued, the law would take its course, adding that the Constitution clearly defines the procedure and grounds for the imposition of governor's rule.

Meanwhile, Kundi has urged young graduates to equip themselves for the challenges of professional life, emphasizing that academic success is the result of students' relentless hard work. He added that educated youth, with confidence and dedication, can make their mark in their respective fields and bring honor to the nation.

The Governor expressed these views while addressing the 10th convocation of Gandhara University Peshawar as the chief guest on Wednesday.