PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Monday pledged closer coordination between the federal and provincial governments, declaring that the province’s policies would be guided by Islamabad rather than Kabul.
“Gone are the days when there was no coordination between the Centre and the province,” Kundi said at a press conference in Peshawar, a day after assuming executive control following the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in 12 districts of KP.
Kundi said the new administration’s foremost priority would be combating terrorism, strengthening law enforcement and restoring lasting peace. Development would follow, with the government committed to providing police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) with the resources, weapons, vehicles and personnel they need.
Addressing security personnel, the governor pledged full support and announced plans to raise police salaries, increase compensation under the martyrs’ package and provide free education to the children of personnel killed in the line of duty. He said KP police salaries would no longer remain among the lowest in the country.
Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi jointly chaired a provincial apex committee meeting, where officials called for coordinated and decisive counterterrorism measures. The forum decided to continue intelligence-based operations and strengthen the operational capacity of the police and CTD through modern equipment, additional personnel and other necessary resources.
Naqvi announced that 10 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) had been provided to KP police on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said the federal government would extend all possible assistance to provincial law enforcement agencies.
The interior minister also emphasised consultation with tribal elders and announced that a separate Area Development Secretariat had been established to address security, governance and development challenges in the 12 districts under emergency. He clarified that the initiative was not intended to separate these districts from the province.
Kundi said the administration would work around the clock to restore peace, reopen roads and normalise life. He also urged striking doctors to return to work and assured university employees and the business community that their concerns would be addressed.
The governor criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accusing its previous provincial administration of failing to coordinate adequately with the Centre on counterterrorism. The federal government has also alleged that the former provincial government did not cooperate sufficiently in tackling militancy, while PTI has opposed the Centre’s security approach and maintained that it was being excluded from decisions concerning the province.
The federal government imposed emergency under Article 232 and governor’s rule under Article 234 of the Constitution on Sunday, following concerns over the security situation and alleged shortcomings in counterterrorism cooperation. Governor Kundi is now exercising the provincial government’s functions with the assistance of an advisory council, while Parliament will exercise the provincial assembly’s legislative powers.
Separately, the KP law department de-notified 61 law officers and appointed 27 new officers following the change in the province’s administrative setup.