PESHAWAR(The COW News Digital) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has strongly criticized Governor Faisal Karim Kundi for convening a high-level meeting on the province’s security situation, describing the move as an attack on the Constitution and democratic governance.
Addressing a meeting of the provincial cabinet, Afridi said the provincial government had been elected with a two-thirds majority and that the provincial assembly, cabinet and administration were fully functional.
He questioned the governor’s decision to summon the chief secretary, inspector general of police and other senior officials for a security meeting, saying such an initiative was unacceptable in the presence of an elected provincial government.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had convened the meeting on October 6 to review the security situation in the province and measures aimed at countering terrorism. The chief secretary, inspector general and other senior officials attended the session.
Afridi said he would seek the opinion of the provincial advocate general regarding the constitutional status of the governor’s meeting. He argued that there was a constitutional procedure for removing a chief minister and that any such attempt should be pursued through a vote of no confidence rather than through actions he considers unconstitutional.
The chief minister also criticized what he described as the federal government’s longstanding treatment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that the financial integration of the former tribal districts, which were merged with the province in 2018, had still not been fully completed.
According to Afridi, the financial rights agreed upon at the time of the merger have not been completely provided to the tribal districts. He also claimed that around Rs100 billion in compensation for people displaced as a result of federal security policies remained outstanding.
Afridi said the provincial government had provided Rs21 billion for displaced people since taking office. Referring to the Baka Khel camp in North Waziristan, he alleged that a commitment to provide between Rs370 million and Rs380 million every month to affected families had not been fulfilled as promised.
He said families whose homes had been destroyed and communities affected by violence were still waiting for compensation.
The chief minister also questioned the federal strategy for dealing with terrorism. He claimed that more than 14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations had been conducted in the province over the past 22 years, yet lasting peace had remained elusive.
Afridi further claimed that approximately 80,000 lives had been lost and argued that the continued security challenges demonstrated shortcomings in the existing policy. He said a strategy developed with the participation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s stakeholders could potentially restore peace within 100 days.
On provincial security institutions, Afridi said his government was continuing efforts to strengthen the police, Counter Terrorism Department and Special Branch. He said investment was also being made in counterterrorism infrastructure.
The chief minister praised the sacrifices of police officers and administrative officials who, he said, had continued to perform their duties under difficult circumstances.
Afridi directed the inspector general and chief secretary not to comply with any order they considered unconstitutional or illegal. He said the provincial government was committed to maintaining law and order but argued that police personnel should not be used for purposes unrelated to their official responsibilities.
He also ordered inquiries into alleged incidents involving police conduct in South Waziristan and Upper Waziristan. Afridi said action should be taken if police personnel were found to have been used for private interests or involved in unlawful firing.
The chief minister separately called for an immediate inquiry against the SHO of Lachi, alleging that the officer had collected money from people at gunpoint. He directed that the allegations be investigated and that the officer be removed from his position if wrongdoing was established.
Afridi also accused unnamed actors of attempting to provoke the provincial government and push it toward a reaction that could further worsen political tensions.
He said his government would remain peaceful and would continue to rely on the Constitution and the law. He also criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party over what he described as its historical political conduct and warned against any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s unity.
The statements come amid heightened political and security tensions between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments. The dispute over the governor’s security meeting has added another dimension to disagreements over constitutional authority, counterterrorism policy and the administration of the province.
