Kundi urges united push for KP’s NFC share, peace and public sector reforms

CHARSADDA: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has called for collective political action to protect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s constitutional and financial entitlements, including what he described as the province’s due share under the National Finance Commission Award.

During a visit to the residence of former provincial minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah in Utmanzai, where he addressed party workers, elders and journalists, Kundi said political stakeholders should put aside party differences and work jointly for the province’s welfare and development. He said restoring peace and stability, especially in the southern districts, remained a foremost concern and added that lasting economic progress could not be achieved without better law and order.

The governor said the federal government was prepared to provide full support in dealing with the province’s difficulties and urged the provincial administration to take practical measures to address public problems. Referring to issues related to wheat and the CNG sector, he said the Centre was standing with the provincial government, but alleged that the latter had not shown adequate seriousness in resolving those matters.

Kundi also criticised the provincial administration over what he said was a failure to take effective steps to raise police salaries. He stressed the need for changes in health, education and other public service sectors to improve facilities for citizens.

Criticism of provincial government

In his remarks, the governor criticised former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, calling the presence of a bodyguard on the assembly floor unconstitutional. He also said some positions taken by the provincial leadership showed contradictions in its public stance.

On Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kundi said talks could not be held with elements that did not accept the Constitution and the rule of law, adding that a strong federation was necessary for a strong Pakistan.

Commenting on the recent budget debate, he said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had first maintained that the budget would not pass, but events later showed otherwise. On the NFC Award, he alleged that the provincial government had not effectively presented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s case before federal authorities and had failed to secure meaningful gains for the province in meetings with the prime minister. He repeated his call for a joint political effort to defend the province’s rights.

Two shooting incidents reported

Separately, police said a former PTI union council nazim and property dealer, Noorul Wahab, was killed in an exchange of fire linked to a property dispute in the Mitho Kallay area, while two people from the rival side were injured.

According to police, Wahab was travelling with his brother Abdullah from Sardheri Bazaar to their home when Khanzada, Jamshad, Umarzada, Bilal and Usman allegedly opened fire on their vehicle near Mitho Kallay. Wahab died at the scene and Abdullah was seriously wounded. Police registered an FIR on Abdullah’s complaint under sections 302, 324, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The complainant said the attack was the result of a longstanding property dispute.

Police also recorded a cross-version on the complaint of Umarzada, who alleged that Wahab and Abdullah had reached the spot when armed men opened fire on them. He said he suffered a gunshot injury to the leg, while those with him were not hurt. Police said the cross-case also linked the incident to the same property dispute.

In another incident within the Tarnab police station limits, a young man was shot dead and his brother injured when robbers opened fire during a robbery on Saturday. Police said Sajjad Khan and his brother Shayan were travelling in a rickshaw from Charsadda to Tarnab when three unidentified armed men stopped them in the Bazi Abad area.

The suspects allegedly tried to snatch Rs104,000 in cash and two mobile phones. When the brothers resisted, the assailants fired repeatedly, killing Sajjad Khan on the spot and injuring Shayan in the hand before escaping with the cash and mobile phones, according to police.