Education
Sports
KPK
PPP Parliamentary Leader Urges Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government to Read Constitution, Pursue Reconciliation
Shahzad Rasheed
PESHAWAR: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Ahmad Kundi, has urged the provincial government to read and understand the Constitution before criticizing Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, stressing that political reconciliation, rather than confrontation with the federal government, is in the best interest of the province.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Ahmad Kundi was accompanied by PPP parliamentary committee members, including MPA Mehar Sultan Advocate, MPA Shazia Tehmas, Arbab Zarak, and Minority Wing leader Bahari Lal.
Ahmad Kundi condemned the criticism directed at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi during a special meeting of the provincial cabinet. He said the governor has a constitutional right to convene a high-level meeting to review law and order and the deteriorating security situation in the province. He maintained that the Constitution assigns the governor a role in addressing matters of public concern, particularly when the provincial administration faces serious challenges.
He said the provincial government should adopt a policy of reconciliation with the federal government instead of confrontation, particularly when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing serious terrorism and security challenges.
Kundi said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had facilitated dialogue between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government, but the talks ultimately failed after lengthy negotiations. He also criticized the provincial government’s participation in protest politics, saying that confrontation and long marches would not resolve the province’s problems.
He alleged that the provincial government had failed to adequately implement federal policies aimed at countering terrorism and said the people, police and security forces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were continuing to face serious threats.
The PPP leader said his party believed in collective decision-making and reconciliation and had consistently brought political and religious parties together on major national issues.
He urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to focus on governance, peace and the rights of the people rather than confrontation with Islamabad. Kundi also advised the provincial leadership to study the Constitution carefully and act within its framework.
He emphasized that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security and development should remain the priority and called for cooperation between the provincial and federal governments to address the province’s longstanding challenges.
National
IGP Orders Probe Into Violence Against Women in Khairpur, Mirpurkhas
Sabahat Sarwar
Karachi: Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho has taken notice of two separate incidents of violence against women in Khairpur and Mirpurkhas and directed police to ensure transparent and impartial investigations and bring the suspects to justice. In Faiz Ganj, 50 year old Arbab Khatoon was allegedly killed with an axe during a dispute between two groups in Ranjho Khaskheli village. According to reports, the incident was reportedly linked to an honour-related dispute.
In a separate incident in Mirpurkhas, Sohail a resident of Ismail Shah Colony, allegedly threw acid on his wife, Kainat Malik. Taking notice of both cases, the IGP directed the concerned officers to take all possible measures to arrest the suspects and ensure that the investigations were conducted without bias or discrimination. He said violence against women, acid attacks and so-called honour crimes were unacceptable and that those involved must face legal action. IGP odho also sought reports from the concerned officers and warned that negligence or failure to properly investigate such cases would not be tolerated.
The incidents come amid broader concerns over GBV across the country. A report released by human rights organisation Sahil on July 23, 2026, documented 3,172 cases of gender-based violence against women across Pakistan during the first six months of the year, including 18 cases involving transgender persons. According to the report, the cases included 664 murders, 514 incidents of torture, 462 abductions, 363 suicides, 280 rape cases, 175 cases of injuries, 132 honour killings and 21 incidents classified as other forms of violence.
The report noted that the ages of victims were unavailable or unverified in 71% of the cases. Among cases where the victims’ ages were recorded, 306 were between 11 and 20 years old, 334 between 21 and 30 and 120 between 31 and 40. More than half of the reported incidents or 54% occurred inside victims’ homes, while 25% took place at unspecified locations. The remaining 21% were reported at other locations.
Acquaintances were identified as alleged perpetrators in 26.6% of the cases, followed by strangers at 24.1%. The perpetrator was unidentified or not mentioned in 19.9% of cases, while 16.6% were attributed to others and 12.8% to husbands. Punjab recorded the highest share of reported cases at 74%, followed by Sindh at 17% and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 6%. Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory and Azad Jammu and Kashmir collectively accounted for the remaining 3%.
