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.
