Afridi hits back at Kundi over security meeting

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 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 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 PTI's 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.

"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.

 

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.

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."

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.