KP issues cannot be solved through protests outside Adiala Jail: Governor Kundi

LOWER DIR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday said the province’s problems could not be addressed through demonstrations outside Adiala Jail or through political point-scoring, and stressed the need for practical steps to resolve public issues.

He was speaking at a workers’ convention in Timergara organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Lower Dir chapter and the Peoples Students Federation. The gathering was attended by party workers, youth activists and local leaders from different parts of Lower Dir.

Warning over taxes in former tribal areas

Mr Kundi said the imposition of taxes in the erstwhile Pata and Fata regions would not be accepted under any circumstances. He said his party would formulate a strong response if any effort was made to enforce such taxes by force.

He also said the PPP believed in giving young people greater political space and would ensure their effective representation in the upcoming local government elections. Speaking about the role of youth in politics, he said:

“Youth are the country’s greatest asset, and providing them leadership opportunities is the need of the hour,”

The governor expressed concern over the law and order situation in the province, saying funerals were taking place every day and security personnel were continuing to lay down their lives, while the provincial government was still advocating talks with militants. “We cannot hold talks with elements that do not recognise Pakistan’s Constitution and the state,” he said referring to such negotiations.

Criticism of provincial government

Mr Kundi criticised the provincial government, saying it did not understand its constitutional authority and obligations. He said it had failed to secure the annual Rs800 billion package linked to the merger of the former tribal districts and had also not managed to obtain wheat supplies from Punjab.

According to the governor, these failures had deprived people in the province of development projects and basic public services. He further alleged that deforestation was accelerating because of the timber mafia and said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was no longer in a position to speak about its widely publicised Billion Tree Tsunami project. He added that forest protection was an urgent requirement, but claimed the provincial administration was not serious about the matter.

The governor said the restoration of wheat quota supplies from Punjab and the reopening of closed CNG stations had become possible because of his personal efforts, while the provincial government had not resolved those issues.

Remarks on PTI and regional diplomacy

Referring to internal differences within PTI, Mr Kundi claimed there were traitors within the party. He said Sher Afzal Marwat had filed a constitutional petition seeking the restoration of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, but added that the provincial government itself was opposing that move. He also said he continued to stand by his earlier position regarding Mr Gandapur.

Mr Kundi further claimed that talks between Iran and the United States would soon take place in Islamabad, describing the expected development as a potentially important step for peace in the region.

Other speakers at the convention described the PPP as a party of the youth and pledged to strengthen organisational activity across the district.