Mohsin Naqvi, KP governor hold talks on province’s security situation

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in Peshawar, with discussions focusing on constitutional measures to protect the province from further devastation.

Naqvi said the provincial government had shown stubbornness and that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had once again adopted a “U-turn” approach.

The meeting also considered constitutional steps to prevent the province from being further damaged.

The Governor House would act on any advice from the president and prime minister, the governor said.

Kundi said he would play his constitutional role if the imposition of an emergency was deemed necessary. He also said he would perform his constitutional role in the event of Governor’s Rule.

Naqvi’s visit comes after a series of harsh statements from the federal and provincial governments following a deadlock in negotiations between them.

Before his Lahore press conference, Naqvi met PM Shehbaz at his residence, their second meeting within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf remained committed to its plan for a long march from Lakki Marwat, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived there to lead the march.

At the Lahore press conference, Naqvi blamed Afridi for the failure of negotiations, saying the government and opposition had reached agreement on 99% of the points but that Afridi had disrupted the process at the final stage.

Naqvi said that if Afridi was to make the decisions, he should have participated in the negotiations himself. He said the talks would not have taken place had it been known that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government would withdraw from the agreement.

Speaking about the long march, Naqvi said the PTI had been told that negotiations would end if the march began.

He said the government would fulfil its responsibility to maintain law and order and ensure compliance with court orders. He added that, should a life be lost, Afridi would be held responsible.

Naqvi said everyone had the right to protest, but permission would not be given to storm Islamabad, and the government would not allow a repeat of the events of May 9.

He also said the PTI had been informed that action would be taken against those violating the law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as in other provinces.