CM, Governor accuse Punjab, Federal Government of violating Constitution; warn against public unrest
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Governor Faisal Kundi. Photo: NNI
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday put aside their political differences to jointly demand respect for the province’s constitutional rights, especially with regard to procurement of wheat and CNG.
Addressing a joint press conference at the National Jirga Hall of the provincial assembly, the two leaders were joined by President Babar Salim Swati and Opposition Leader Dr Ebadullah of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.
Afridi sharply criticized the Punjab government, saying it was committing “atrocities” against KP by restricting wheat supplies. “Article 151 of the Constitution does not authorize any ban on inter-provincial movement of food items,” he said, adding that people of KP were forced to buy the most expensive flour in the country.
The chief minister pointed out that KP was producing 508 million cubic feet of gas per day, but its CNG stations were not supplied while the province’s total requirement was only 150 MMCFD. He invoked Article 158, which gives priority to the gas-producing province to meet its own needs first.
“Punjab has damaged national unity by stopping the supply of flour,” Afridi said, warning that the failure of the federal government’s policies was being blamed on the KP government.
Learn more: CM Afridi calls for restoration of gas supply to CNG sector in letter to PM Shehbaz
He said the province was being put in a bind and warned that continued pressure on people could force them to take extreme decisions.
Afridi further accused the federal government of unconstitutional behavior over several development projects and said the province was even providing interim funding for federal projects. He revealed that Rs12 billion allocated to tribal districts had been withheld.
On the law and order situation, the chief minister revealed that he had presented a comprehensive plan in a meeting at the corps commander’s house, but none of his suggestions had been implemented. “If the interference stops and we formulate a strategy with the KP government, peace can be restored within 100 days,” he said.
Governor Kundi described wheat supply and CNG shutdown as the most pressing issues currently facing the province, severely affecting the poor. He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to resolve KP’s problems with ‘Shehbaz speed’.
The governor expressed gratitude to Swati for bringing the government and opposition together on a single platform for the rights of the province. He said the federal government had imposed a lockdown on one hand and shut down CNG on the other, thereby adding to the hardships of the common man.
“KP produces 508 MMCFD of gas but consumes only 150. The shutdown of CNG is a blatant violation of Articles 151 and 158 of the Constitution,” Kundi said, adding that he was in touch with the federal government on the matter.
He stressed that Prime Minister Shehbaz should immediately take cognizance of this issue. The governor warned that the continued denial of legitimate rights, including the province’s share of water, would worsen the economic problems of a region already affected by terrorism.
Read also: Kundi urges Center to resolve KP crisis
“If the poor are denied bread and CNG, they will be forced to take to the streets,” he warned.
Dr Ebadullah said decisions made by the federation must reflect provincial representation. He called on the governor to vigorously champion the cause of the province in his capacity as a federal representative.
All speakers stressed that the KP belonged to all its people and that a collective struggle was necessary to guarantee their rights.
