Kundi says consultations held over governor’s rule in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday said consultations had been held over the possibility of imposing governor’s rule in the province, amid preparations by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its September 27 protest and long march towards Islamabad.

Talking to the media in Peshawar, Kundi said governor’s rule was a possibility and that the Constitution provided for such a measure.

“Consultations have taken place for governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.

His remarks came two days after Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar ruled out the possibility of governor’s rule in KP, saying the federal government had no intention of imposing it and that the province needed “people’s rule” and good governance.

The PTI has announced a protest and long march towards Islamabad on September 27, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan. The planned protest has prompted heightened security measures and restrictions on roads leading to the capital.

Kundi said the PTI had made little preparation for the planned march and claimed that some party members were seeking arrest.

“PTI people are giving themselves up for arrest,” he said, adding that party members were now “looking for a way out”.

The governor also accused the provincial government of seeking greater control over the police.

“They want to bring the police under their control,” Kundi said, referring to what he described as an attempt to turn the police into a “tiger force”.

He said the KP police had the lowest salaries among provincial police forces.

“You cannot provide the police with benefits and also want to bring them under your control,” he said.