KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The political landscape in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa remained volatile on Sunday as rumors of a possible governor’s rule intensified, prompting denials from both the Prime Minister’s Office and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
Sources close to the political scenario said the idea of imposing gubernatorial rule was under consideration in Islamabad, with the government’s initial preference apparently being to retain Governor Faisal Karim Kundi if consensus was reached within the ruling coalition.
According to these sources, alternative names were only offered as contingency options. They indicated that three political figures – Amir Haider Hoti, Pervez Khattak and Aftab Sherpao – would be mentioned if an agreement was not reached on keeping Kundi.
They added that if the political candidates also fail to achieve consensus, the government could consider retired military officers, including Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Khalid Rabbani, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Ghayur Mehmood and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Tariq Khan.
Speculation further gained momentum when Minister of State for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, told a private news channel that the KP government was being “seriously considered”, linking the potential move to “security and governance issues” in the province.
Malik claimed that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and his team had “severely failed to create a workable situation”, adding: “They also do not want to have any coordination or cohesion with the Centre, and they are not taking any action in areas where it was necessary.”
Asked if the government had finalized its decision, Malik said the President held his authority on the advice of the Prime Minister under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. Responding to another question, he said a governor’s recommendation could also be an option.
Officials in the prime minister’s office, however, insisted Sunday that no decisions had been made and no formal proposals were being considered, dismissing talk of the governor’s rule as mere speculation.
They noted that the Prime Minister had recently expressed confidence in Governor Kundi during a meeting covering administrative matters and the province’s share in the upcoming National Finance Commission award.
Despite the whirlwind of reports, Kundi said he had not been consulted about such a move. He said he had only heard these claims through the media and stressed that he had not received any official communication regarding a change in his position or the imposition of the governor’s power.
“If the media names the governor, God help us,” he told reporters. He added that he would accept whatever decision his party, the Pakistan People’s Party, ultimately takes.
Kundi reiterated that the Constitution contains a provision relating to the power of the governor, but stressed that no conversation had taken place with him on the matter. He warned that KP’s fragile security environment left little room for political agitation.
Meanwhile, reports of a possible change continued to circulate, with political sources suggesting that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s rigid stance towards federal institutions had contributed to internal discussions.
These allegations have not been verified and have not been acknowledged by the prime minister’s office, which has continued to maintain that no formal review is underway. Political commentators have described this moment as an important test for federal-provincial relations.
(COURTESY OF OUR PESHAWAR CORRESPONDENT)
