PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ameer Muqam has claimed that all legal requirements for imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been met, alleging that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken unconstitutional and illegal steps.
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Muqam said the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was before everyone, with the people of the province facing terrorism for years.
He said the people of KP had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and questioned the performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government, which, he claimed, had been in power for 13 years without bringing the change promised to voters.
Muqam alleged that the current chief minister lacked experience and claimed that the provincial government appeared to be focused on two objectives: securing the release of a prisoner and what he described as corruption.
He said education, health and other basic facilities were not receiving adequate attention, adding that the provincial government had yet to demonstrate a clear direction for governance.
Muqam criticises KP government’s security policy
The federal minister said law and order remained the biggest challenge facing the province and argued that sustainable development would be difficult without peace.
He criticised statements by PTI leaders regarding terrorist incidents and said the sacrifices of security personnel should not be undermined.
Muqam questioned why PTI rallies and political activities in KP had not faced terrorist attacks despite what he described as the security challenges confronting the province.
He said political workers and leaders from different parties had lost family members to terrorism and stressed that the suffering of KP’s people affected the entire country.
Muqam alleged that the provincial government’s style of governance suggested that it had become aligned with militants, claiming that terrorists had gained influence across the province.
Dispute over police control
Muqam also criticised proposed legislation concerning the provincial police, alleging that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi wanted to bring the inspector general of police and chief secretary under his direct control.
He claimed that the provincial government sought control over the police hierarchy from the IGP down to DSP level, warning that such measures could affect police morale.
He also criticised calls for talks with the Afghan government and the return of Taliban elements, alleging that the provincial government’s strategy for countering terrorism was unclear.
Muqam further criticised PTI’s calls for negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), accusing the party of adopting what he described as a “double policy” that ultimately affected civilians and security forces.
Governor’s rule described as an option
Muqam said governor’s rule remained an option and claimed that the legal requirements for its imposition had been fulfilled because of what he described as the chief minister’s illegal actions.
He praised KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as a “decent person” and said that “anything can happen at any time.”
The federal minister also criticised the proposed PTI long march, claiming that roads in KP and Islamabad had been affected while normal activities continued elsewhere in the country.
He said the planned September 27 mobilisation had been postponed until October 4 after reports suggested that people would not participate in large numbers.
Muqam alleged that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had sought the assistance of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and asserted that Afridi would not be able to continue as chief minister.
Muqam rules out talks on a single-point demand
Responding to a question about negotiations, Muqam said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously supported dialogue with the opposition when he was opposition leader.
However, he said negotiations could not be held with what he described as a “prisoner” over a single demand. He added that the government was prepared for talks on broader issues but would not negotiate on what he called a one-point agenda.
