PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday said he had reservations about the success of the ongoing dialogue between the federal government and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf about their issues, but appreciated the process.

“It is good to see the government and PTI sit down to discuss issues as I have always advocated for dialogue among political forces. However, I oppose the exercise if it is meant to secure NRO [amnesty for incarcerated leaders]. Cases should be decided by the courts of law,” Mr Kundi told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club.

The governor said that he did not see any positive outcomes come from the government-PTI dialogue but still prayed for its success.

“I strongly fear a U-turn from PTI founder Imran Khan regarding talks,” he said.

Kundi says only courts should decide whether to punish or free Imran

Mr Kundi said that the appropriate forum to resolve issues was parliament and not streets and that only the courts should decide whether to punish or free Imran Khan.

He said that the law and order situation was volatile in the province, so he repeatedly requested the provincial government to hold cabinet meetings in Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu areas to decide about corrective measures.

The governor said that he had reservations about Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur chairing the provincial apex committee’s meetings due to his nomination in terrorism and murder cases.

He insisted that the chief minister had failed to maintain law and order in the province.

Mr Kundi accused the PTI government of resettling terrorists in the province and said that he daily received “messages about road blockades” from terrorists.

He suggested that the opposition leader in the KP Assembly be invited to the apex committee meetings to highlight the “other side of the picture” on the security issue.

“The opposition leader is not part of the apex committee, suggesting half of the province is not represented in the forum,” he said.

About a recent protest by local government representatives in Peshawar, the governor said that he would hold a convention of those LG members and ask the government to fulfil its promises regarding their powers and funding.

He said that no democracy in the world had reported the baton-charging and tear-gassing of peaceful local government representatives.

Meanwhile, Mr Kundi held a meeting with senior journalists at the Governor’s House here and said that the Kurram Peace Jirga should be strengthened so that its all decisions could be implemented in letter and spirit.

He said that he would speak to the National Highway Authority for putting up an alternate route to Kurram tribal district to prevent violence.

The governor said that technical and political committees were formed during a recent multi-party conference hosted by the Governor’s House to discuss the issues facing the province.

He said that the MPC called for an immediate announcement of the 11th National Finance Commission Award and the release of three per cent share in national resources for the merged tribal districts.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025