PTI govt has made KP unstable: Kundi

MINGORA: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Thursday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had brought back instability to the province and reversed the progress.

“In 2013, a peaceful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was handed over to the PTI, but this party government reversed the progress and brought back instability to the province,” he said while talking to the media during his visit to Swat where he inaugurated an Emergency Rescue Centre at the Pakistan Red Crescent (Hilal-e-Ahmer) office in Kanju Township.

During the ceremony, he handed over two ambulances and five local rescue boats to the Swat chapter of the Red Crescent. First aid kits were also distributed among local volunteers. The governor praised the organization’s performance and lauded the commitment and contributions of the local volunteers.

“We do not want war; we want peace—whether through dialogue or any other means. But when all avenues are closed, an operation remains the last resort,” he said.

Kundi demanded accountability for Rs 700 billion received by the province under the National Finance Commission Award, questioning where such a huge amount had been spent.

He pointed out that even after eight years, the promised annual allocation of Rs 100 billion for the merged tribal districts had not been fulfilled, terming it a betrayal of commitments.

The governor launched a scathing attack on the PTI leadership, stating that Imran Khan had remained confined to rallies and public gatherings in the past rather than appearing before courts.

“PTI now has more than five different factions, and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is playing on both sides of the wicket,” he said.

He alleged that the law and order situation in KP had deteriorated alarmingly and criticized the use of helicopters for the children of ministers rather than the general public.

Highlighting a recent tragedy, the governor held the provincial government responsible for the loss of 16 lives in the Swat River incident on June 27.

“Despite such a massive loss of life, the government has failed to learn any lessons. Shockingly, the brave rescue worker, Ismat Ali, who helped save lives, was suspended instead,” he added.

The governor took a dig at the chief minister, saying that while Ali Amin Gandapur rushed to meet the corps commander upon taking office, he himself had visited the graves of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto first when he became the governor.