PROVINCE REPORT
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has stressed the need for effective coordination between the federal and provincial governments to address the deteriorating security situation in the province, saying the KP government alone may face difficulties in combating militancy.
Speaking to a delegation of senior journalists from Dera Ismail Khan, comprising Saeedullah Marwat, Muhammad Irfan Mughal, Muhammad Iqbal Bhatti and Sheikh Toqeer Habibani, the governor said recent incidents in Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan had highlighted the seriousness of the security situation.
Mr Kundi said the federal and provincial governments needed to work together, recalling that during the Pakistan Peoples Party government from 2008 to 2013, coordination between the two governments had helped in conducting military operations and rehabilitating people displaced by militancy in Swat.
“Without coordination between the Centre and the province, operations against militancy will face difficulties,” he said, adding that all political parties and security institutions needed to work together for restoring peace in the province.
The governor rejected dialogue as a solution with groups that, according to him, had taken up arms against the state and did not recognise the Constitution and law of the country.
He questioned how groups claiming to be fighting for an Islamic system could justify attacks on mosques, imambargahs and educational institutions such as cadet colleges.
Mr Kundi said Pakistan had an opportunity to attract greater investment and development if peace was restored in KP. “If we bring peace to our province, no power in the world can stop us from turning it into a developed region,” he said.
PPP supports state, democracy
The governor said the PPP was not a supporter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government but stood with it on issues concerning the stability of the state and democracy.
He said the PPP had made sacrifices in the past and would continue to do so, adding that the party had chosen not to become part of the government or accept ministries but had supported it where the interests of the state and democracy were involved.
“We criticise for reform, not for the sake of criticism,” he said.
Mr Kundi also criticised the federal and provincial governments over urban flooding following recent rains, saying the situation in major cities had exposed shortcomings in planning and drainage systems.
Referring to the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development project, he questioned the wisdom of developing housing schemes in flood-prone areas and warned that short-term development planning could expose residents and public investment to repeated losses.
He said authorities should take into account natural water channels and flood patterns before undertaking large-scale development projects.
Kashmir elections
The governor also raised concerns over the role of federal ministers and the PML-N in the ongoing political activity surrounding elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said if the PML-N was genuinely serious about the Kashmir cause, political representation for Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan should be considered in the federal parliament so that their people could raise their concerns directly.
Mr Kundi alleged that the PPP had evidence of irregularities affecting its candidates in the Kashmir elections and said the party would present the evidence before the relevant forums.
He criticised the involvement of federal ministers and the use of buses from Punjab in the election campaign, arguing that government resources should be transferred through institutional, government-to-government mechanisms rather than being presented as political gifts.
He said the PPP would welcome development projects in any part of the country, including road infrastructure connecting the region with KP, but stressed that such projects should be implemented through proper government procedures.
Calls for intelligence-based operations
Referring to recent attacks in Manjhi Khel and Hangu, Mr Kundi said terrorism was not confined to Dera Ismail Khan and Hangu, with security concerns also emerging in the southern districts, merged districts, Swat and Dir.
He called for intelligence-based operations across the province and said he would discuss the matter with the chief minister.
The governor said the KP government should address the concerns of the police and involve elected representatives and political parties in efforts to improve the security situation.
He maintained that issues involving the province’s financial and administrative interests, including the CNG and wheat issues, the Fata-Pata tax matter and funds owed by the federal government, should not be politicised.
Mr Kundi said the federal and provincial governments had to remain on the same page on issues affecting the province’s security and development, adding that political differences should not impede collective efforts to restore peace.
