Kundi, Naqvi slam K-P govt over counterterrorism role during talks

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticised the provincial government’s attitude and role regarding counterterrorism operations during negotiations between the government and opposition, saying it had been tantamount to acting against the interests of the people and the province. Naqvi travelled to Peshawar and met Governor Kundi at the Governor House, where the two leaders discussed several important provincial matters. The meeting came as negotiations between the government and opposition failed to yield any result, with the possibility of the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency looming over the province amid the deteriorating security situation. Read: Naqvi blames K-P CM for talks ‘collapse’, warns Afridi will ‘be responsible’ if anyone dies during march According to a statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders discussed various aspects of the worsening law and order situation in the province, the political situation and developments arising from the long march. The two leaders also expressed concern over the possibility of terrorists being facilitated to safely pass through security checkpoints during the long march. “The provincial government’s attitude and role regarding counterterrorism operations during the negotiations has been tantamount to acting against the interests of the people and the province,” it added. The meeting noted that after an agreement had been reached on resolving the issues, the provincial government had once again demonstrated what it described as obstinacy and irresponsibility by reversing its position. The meeting also described the use of helicopters and other government resources by the K-P chief minister and provincial ministers during the long march as an open violation of Islamabad High Court verdicts. The two sides also discussed other matters of mutual interest and held consultations on several issues. Later, in a post on X, Governor Kundi confirmed the meeting, which was also attended by K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed and Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah. Met with Federal Interior Minister @MohsinnaqviC42 , IG @KP_Police1 Zulfiqar Hameed, @CSKPOfficial Shahab Ali Shah at Governor House, Peshawar. We discussed the prevailing security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The security of our people remains our foremost priority. Khyber… pic.twitter.com/KJc8dY3isO — Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) October 4, 2026 He said they had discussed the prevailing security situation in the province. “The security of our people remains our foremost priority,” he said, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had sacrificed enough and every institution must work together to protect the people and defeat terrorism. Naqvi, Kundi question Afridi’s ‘heli ride’ Later, both leaders also highlighted the use of the provincial government’s helicopter during the long march, calling it a serious violation of an Islamabad High Court order. It is pertinent to mention that in its 37-page detailed judgment issued on Sept 18, the Islamabad High Court had warned against the use of state machinery during the protest. The court held that government funds, vehicles, machinery or officials could not be used for any political march towards Islamabad. اسلام آباد ہائی کورٹ کے واضح احکامات کے باوجود وزیراعلیٰ سہیل آفریدی کا سرکاری ہیلی کاپٹر پر لانگ مارچ کی قیادت کے لیے گنڈی چوک، لکی مروت پہنچنا توہینِ عدالت اور عدالتی احکامات کی کھلی خلاف ورزی ہے جب وزیرِاعلیٰ خود عدالت کے احکامات کی پاسداری نہیں کریں گے، سرکاری وسائل کو سیاسی… pic.twitter.com/jGDKYf58jk — Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) October 4, 2026 In a post on X, Kundi said that despite the clear orders of the Islamabad High Court, CM Afridi’s arrival at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat by official helicopter to lead the long march constituted contempt of court and a blatant violation of judicial directives. “When the chief minister himself does not uphold the court’s orders and uses state resources for political activities, what expectation can there be for his workers to abide by the law?” he said. Naqvi expressed similar sentiments in a post on X, while commenting on the chief minister’s use of the official helicopter, sarcastically suggesting that the journey may have been undertaken for official duties. Sohail Afridi Sahib’s Heli ride today from Peshawar to Lakki Marwat must have been for official work, possibly related to the security situation and counterterrorism efforts. pic.twitter.com/Lkfnox0otg — Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) October 4, 2026 “Sohail Afridi Sahib’s heli ride today from Peshawar to Lakki Marwat must have been for official work, possibly related to the security situation and counterterrorism efforts,” he wrote. Kundi warns emergency may be imposed if needed to 'save province' Earlier, Kundi warned that an emergency could be imposed if necessary to “save the province”, as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) began its planned long march after talks with the federal government ended in deadlock. The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march to Islamabad from September 27 to October 4, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announcing the revised date on September 25. CM Afridi had said the decision to defer the march was part of the party’s “political strategy” and that negotiations with the federal government would continue even after the mobilisation. “If imposing emergency becomes necessary to save the province, then we will certainly impose it,” Kundi said while speaking to the media today. He said the president, prime minister and other institutions could consider imposing an emergency if they believed the situation in the province had deteriorated. Kundi also issued a warning to those taking part in the march, saying, “If an emergency is imposed, I alone will be enough for them.” He claimed PTI workers were currently “hiding and getting themselves arrested”. “I do not make threats like them. When the field is set, I will deal with them,” Kundi said. Read: CM Afridi lays out K-P long march schedule amid govt-PTI deadlock in talks Questioning the scale of the PTI protest, he asked, “What long march? Is anything happening in Peshawar? Have you seen any banners?” The governor said he had so far seen only “self-staged arrests and people going into hiding” during the long march. “Let them cross Swabi first. It may take a month, but it will not happen,” Kundi said. His remarks came after two rounds of government-opposition talks failed to resolve differences over PTI’s planned march to Islamabad. The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, ended in the early hours of Sunday without an agreement. The opposition had insisted on meeting PTI founder Imran Khan before calling off the march, while disagreements also remained over his access to personal doctors and the federal government’s proposed approach to counter-terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI leaders subsequently said the march would proceed as planned. CM Afridi announced that its first phase would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Sunday, with caravans from several southern districts joining the procession.

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