Afridi calls Kundi's security meeting ‘attack on Constitution’, warns against 'another East Pakistan' situation

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday condemned a security meeting chaired by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, calling it “an attack on the Constitution and democracy” and warning that his government would not allow “any conspiracy to break up Pakistan” to succeed.

He also accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of trying to create “another East Pakistan”, alleging that the party had previously prioritised personal interests over national interests. “We are with Pakistan and will not allow anyone to break up Pakistan under any circumstances. Whatever their intentions, God willing, they will fail," he added.

While addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, Afridi said the provincial government had been elected with a two-thirds majority and that the provincial assembly, cabinet and government remained intact. “The drama staged by the governor yesterday was extremely regrettable and condemnable,” he said, adding, “The governor presiding over such a meeting is an attack on the Constitution and democracy.”

The dispute over Kundi’s role came amid weeks of tension between the federal and provincial governments, with the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency repeatedly raised over the deteriorating security situation and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned march. The row intensified as Kundi expanded his role beyond his constitutional remit, chairing meetings on matters that fall under the provincial government’s authority.

 

Afridi questioned the governor’s authority to summon the chief secretary and IGP while an elected provincial government was in place.

“There is a constitutional procedure for removing a chief minister. The vote of no-confidence is the mechanism to do so,” he said, adding that he would consult the advocate general on the constitutional status of the meeting and, if necessary, legislation would be introduced through the provincial assembly.

He further stated that the advocate general of K-P would be consulted on the constitutional status of the meeting held on Tuesday.

He added that there was a constitutional procedure for removing a chief minister and that a vote of no-confidence was the mechanism provided for this purpose. “We will not allow anyone to launch an attack on democracy. The governor has acted unconstitutionally,” he affirmed.

Afridi claimed that the governor’s activities were aimed at provoking the provincial government and forcing it to respond in a way that could further deteriorate the situation.

Meanwhile, K-P Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel told the meeting that Pakistan operated under a federal parliamentary system in which the Constitution defined the legislative, administrative and financial powers of different institutions.

He said the governor’s appointment was governed by Article 101, while Article 103 set out the governor’s conditions and powers and Article 104 provided for the speaker to perform the governor’s functions when required.

“In a parliamentary form of government and federalism, the governor is a ceremonial head,” the advocate general said, adding that executive powers rested with the provincial cabinet and government.

Referring to Article 131, he said the chief minister was required to keep the governor informed about matters relating to provincial administration and legislative proposals the provincial government intended to bring before the assembly. “There is nowhere written that on his own he can call someone, ask them questions or give instructions or directions,” he said.

The advocate general stated that such powers could be exercised under Article 234 when the constitutional machinery of a province failed and governor’s rule was imposed. “At the moment, the provincial government is in the field,” he added.

Security situation

Afridi defended his government’s record on policing and counter-terrorism, saying it had worked continuously to strengthen the police, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch since he took oath on October 15, 2025.

“The weapons now with our police are not with any other police force in Pakistan,” he said, adding that his government had invested in CTD infrastructure and provided funds to strengthen the Special Branch, which he described as the “eyes” of the provincial government because effective intelligence was key to preventing attacks.

He also praised the police and administration for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, saying they had helped take the province from a period marked by ammunition and suicide attacks towards peace.

Afridi also accused the federal government of treating K-P as a “stepchild”.

He said the former tribal districts had been merged with K-P administratively in 2018 but had not been fully integrated financially, and that the funds promised at the time of the merger had still not been provided.

He accused the federal government of continuously imposing military operations on K-P since 2024, while people displaced by the government’s “wrong policies” had remained without full compensation. “Around Rs100 billion is still outstanding for our people who sacrificed for Pakistan,” he added.

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Afridi said people whose homes had been destroyed were still waiting for compensation and that tribal families had been allocated only Rs400,000 per household. “Their handbags are worth tens of millions of rupees, while our tribal people, who have always sacrificed for Pakistan, have been allocated only Rs400,000 for their entire household.”

He also raised the case of displaced people from North Waziristan staying at the Bakakhel camp, saying they had been promised between Rs370 million and Rs380 million a month but were still not receiving the amount.

He said the provincial government had provided Rs21 billion to displaced people since taking office and had also borne responsibility for losses caused by military operations and drone strikes. “You make decisions there, but you have never thought about their consequences or what the people go through,” he added.

Afridi called on the federal government to increase K-P’s share under the National Finance Commission and clear outstanding compensation, saying the province had sacrificed 80,000 lives. “We have to fight terrorism as well as deal with conditions created by the federal government’s wrong policies,” he said.

He stated that 14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations had been conducted over 22 years but peace had still not been restored. “If peace has not been established despite the sacrifice of 80,000 lives over 22 years, it means your policy has failed,” he added.

Afridi rejected the argument that the K-P government’s lack of cooperation was responsible for the continuing security problem, pointing to Balochistan, where he said the provincial government was cooperating with the federal government but peace had still not been established. “The federal government’s policy is neither effective in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa nor in Balochistan,” he added.

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Afridi said a policy shift was necessary and claimed that peace could be restored within 100 days if the approach proposed by K-P’s stakeholders was followed. “We say that we can bring peace in 100 days. God willing, we will bring it and show it in 100 days,” he said.

He also accused the federal government of interfering in the provincial police’s work, saying K-P’s police had been made independent and freed from political interference and should not be turned into a force resembling the Punjab police.

“Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police have other duties as well. They have to fight terrorism and deal with the conditions created by your wrong policies,” he said. “But you are making them your personal servants and putting them on other tasks. This is wrong.”

Afridi urged the chief secretary and IGP to direct officials under them to act according to the Constitution and law. “If, God forbid, someone gives you unconstitutional orders, do not obey them,” he said, adding, “These are our people, and this will damage our province and our country.”

He further alleged that a series of actions had been taken to provoke the provincial government and force it into making inflammatory statements.

He claimed that provincial minister Fazal Shakoor Khan had been picked up despite being a member of the provincial cabinet, while PTI workers had been injured in Waziristan. “Shakil Khan was fired at directly. When a goon was injured in retaliatory firing, he was declared to be ‘our man’,” Afridi said.

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“These things are being done to provoke us, so that we give some statement or create some provocation,” he said. “We have to remain peaceful. We have to talk about the Constitution and the law.”

Afridi directly addressed the chief secretary and IGP, saying they should not comply with unconstitutional or illegal orders. “I am a soldier of Imran Khan, and he has trained us throughout our lives not to do anything unconstitutional or illegal, or anything that could harm Pakistan, our province or our people,” he said.

He urged the chief secretary and IGP to direct officials under them to act according to the Constitution and law.

Afridi said police officers in South and North Waziristan had fired at people while acting as someone’s personal servants and called for inquiries against those responsible.

He also ordered an immediate inquiry against the station house officer of Lachi, alleging that the officer had taken money from people at gunpoint. “The Lachi SHO has become a goon rather than a police officer,” he said, calling for the officer to be removed and for officials who carried out wrongful actions not to be spared.