KP Governor Rules Out Talks With ‘Anti-State Elements’, Vows Zero Tolerance
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has ruled out negotiations for elements that do not accept the Constitution. He said decisive action against terrorism and a stronger police force were the only path to lasting peace in the province.
Mr Kundi spoke to journalists on Friday after visiting the families of CTD DSP Imranuddin Khan and Constable Kazim Jan in Charsadda. The two policemen were martyred during an operation against terrorists in Karak district on Thursday.
No concessions for those who reject the Constitution
The governor said elements working against the state should not expect any concessions. He said the Pakistan Army, police and other security agencies had rendered immense sacrifices for the country’s security.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be freed from terrorism,” Mr Kundi said. He added that the public should distance itself from terrorists and refrain from giving them shelter.
Referring to a recent meeting of the National Apex Committee, Mr Kundi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had made it clear that a policy of zero tolerance would be adopted against terrorism. The committee meeting, attended by the prime minister and senior military leadership, focused on security, development and public concerns in the province.
Faisal Karim Kundi announces weapons and funds for police
Mr Kundi said police and other law enforcement agencies needed modern weapons and equipment to confront terrorists. He announced that he was prepared to divert funds from his own development allocation for this purpose.
He added that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had assured him the federal government was ready to provide the police with the required weapons and financial resources.
The governor’s adviser on information, Samar Haroon Bilour, said the police and Counter-Terrorism Department needed modern weapons, secure vehicles and tracking systems. She said sustained federal support was necessary to strengthen both institutions.
Mr Kundi also announced that the compensation package for police personnel martyred in the line of duty had been enhanced. He said police salaries were also being increased.
Afghan weapons in terrorist hands
The governor claimed that weapons left behind after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan had fallen into the hands of terrorists. He said Pakistan’s long border with Afghanistan made surveillance difficult and that terrorists now possessed sophisticated weapons.
Rs160bn federal package and provincial demands
Separately, addressing a news conference at the Governor House in Peshawar, Mr Kundi said the demands presented by the provincial advisory council at the Apex Committee meeting on Thursday had been accepted by the prime minister.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a package of Rs160 billion for the province,” he said. The package was first announced during the prime minister’s visit to Peshawar earlier this week.
Mr Kundi said the prime minister had also directed the food secretary to convene a meeting soon to resolve gas and wheat supply issues. He said peace was essential for development and investment. “If there is peace in the province, there will be development and investment will also come from abroad,” he said.
Water share and Chashma Lift Canal
The governor raised the long-standing issue of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s water share. He insisted the province was not receiving its due allocation under the 1991 water accord.
He said the federal government had heard the province’s position. Tenders for packages one and four of the Chashma Lift Canal would be issued next month, he added.
Ms Bilour said development priorities discussed with the federal government included road connectivity, educational institutions, information technology hubs and vocational training facilities. She said improving security and giving young people better educational and employment opportunities were both necessary for the province’s long-term development.
Political unity
Mr Kundi said the provincial advisory council would pursue Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rights on the basis of facts. He said talks had been held with the Awami National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. He said parties needed to unite over the province’s rights.
Asked about the non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi, Mr Kundi said Mr Afridi was in safe hands. He added that nobody could predict what would happen in the future.
Why this matters
The governor’s statement sets a clear policy line: no dialogue with those who reject the constitutional order. Combined with the Rs160bn development package, it suggests a two-track approach for the province. Whether the promised weapons, funds and projects materialise will determine if the strategy succeeds.
