PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Sunday that he was unaware of reports suggesting he may be replaced and added that he would accept whatever decision his party ultimately makes.
Speaking to reporters in Peshawar, the governor was asked about speculation that several names had emerged as possible contenders for his office. Responding curtly, he questioned where such names had surfaced, only to be told that they were being cited in the media. Kundi remarked that if media outlets were now in a position to appoint governors, it would not bode well for the system.
Asked how he would respond if the leadership decided to remove him, the governor repeated that he would abide by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s decision. Reports about his potential replacement have circulated for several days, though Kundi has publicly rejected these claims in previous interactions as well.
The governor recently met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss political and administrative matters in KP, including talk of possible governor rule in the province. A senior official in the PM Office said after the meeting that the prime minister expressed full confidence in Kundi and indicated that the government did not plan to remove him.
The meeting also touched on the broader political environment and ongoing tensions between the provincial government and the Centre. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam and Federal Minister for Public Affairs Unit Rana Mubashir Iqbal attended the discussion.
One of the issues raised was the reported friction caused by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s tough stance toward the federal government, the military and the bureaucracy, which has fuelled debate over governor rule. Kundi also asked the prime minister to ensure KP receives its full share in the upcoming National Finance Commission award, stressing the province’s financial needs and constitutional entitlement.
The political conversation around his office is likely to continue as the Centre and the province navigate an increasingly strained relationship.
