Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken strong exception to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi’s meeting with the chief secretary and provincial police chief. Going a step further, he said there should be legislation to provide for the governor’s impeachment for “violating the Constitution”.
“A Prime Minister and the Chief Minister can be sent home through a vote of no confidence. If there is no law, the KP Assembly will legislate [for impeachment of the governor] and nobody will be allowed to derail democracy,” Afridi said om October 7
He was responding to KP Governor Faisal Kundi’s summoning of top bureaucrats of the province to discuss the prevailing security situation in the province. Mr Kundi is from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and he has time and again said that Governor’s rule can be imposed in the province ruled by the PTI. In fact, KP is the only province of Pakistan ruled by Imran’s PTI.
There were allegations of large scale rigging in the February 2024 general elections but despite that, PTI could not be prevented from forming the government where it won with a handsome margin. Since then, the KP government has been an eyesore for the PML-N government which is being supported from outside by the PPP led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
PM Shehbaz Sharif issues a veiled threat
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said rising terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa must be stopped “at all costs”, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
According to a statement issued by the PMO, the PM made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam in Islamabad.
During the meeting late on Wednesday, matters relating to various provinces were discussed during the meeting. “Rising terrorism in KP must be stopped at all costs,” the PM said.
He said the government wanted KP to develop like other parts of the country and appreciated the sacrifices made by the people of the province in the fight against terrorism.
Governor taking unconstitutional steps
In a video message shared by his office, Afridi accused the governor of acting unconstitutionally and attempting to provoke the provincial government but said his administration would continue to abide by the law and Constitution. “We will follow the Constitution and that hurts ‘them’,” Mr Afridi said while chairing a meeting of the provincial cabinet.
His remarks came a day after Governor Kundi chaired a meeting with Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah and KP Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed on the province’s security situation. Mr Afridi urged the two officials not to comply with any unconstitutional or illegal order from anyone.
KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel told the meeting that under Article 131 of the Constitution, the governor could seek information from the chief minister, but could not do so independently. “If I do not order you to take an unconstitutional step, do not obey if someone pushes you to follow any unconstitutional order,” Mr Afridi said.
The CM directed the chief secretary to advise the provincial administration against involvement in any unconstitutional activity and ordered the inspector general of police to investigate firing on PTI workers in Upper South Waziristan.
Afridi accused the PPP-affiliated governor of staging a “drama” by convening the security meeting and termed the move unconstitutional. He said the provincial assembly, cabinet and government were fully functional and that such a meeting was unacceptable when the provincial government enjoyed a two-thirds majority.
CM blames ZA Bhutto for splitting Pakistan
Turning his criticism towards the PPP, Mr Afridi blamed former president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, along with Gen Yahya Khan, for the separation of East Pakistan and accused President Asif Ali Zardari of seeking to create a similar situation.
“We will not allow any conspiracy to break up Pakistan to succeed,” he said, alleging that the PPP had always prioritised personal interests over national interests.
Meanwhile, Governor Kundi said later on Wednesday that an emergency or governor’s rule would definitely be imposed in KP if the prime minister and the president considered it necessary to “save the province” amid the security situation.
Speaking to a private TV channel, Mr Kundi said there had been precedents for the imposition of an emergency or governor’s rule.
“In Balochistan, the PPP had to end its government for law and order and impose an emergency,” he said. Asked whether such a measure would be sustainable if imposed in KP, Mr Kundi said, “The first thing [to decide] is when and whether it is imposed. We can discuss its sustainability in another programme.”
Differences over counter-terrorism policy
Afridi also reiterated his opposition to the Centre’s counterterrorism policy and said his government would not allow further military operations in the province.
He maintained that terrorism had again been “imposed on the province” and said his government had worked to strengthen the police, Counter-Terrorism Department and Special Branch since he took office on Oct 15, 2025. Mr Afridi alleged that successive federal governments had imposed military operations on KP since 2004, displacing people who had still not received full compensation.
He claimed nearly Rs100bn in compensation remained outstanding and said tribal families displaced from their homes had been promised Rs400,000 per household, but many had yet to receive the full amount.
He also referred to a commitment to provide Rs370m to Rs380m a month to displaced people from North Waziristan living at the Baka Khel camp, stressing that the promised payments were still not being made.
Peace possible with change of policy
Afridi said KP was fighting terrorism while also dealing with the consequences of Federal policies and claimed peace could be restored within 100 days if the approach advocated by provincial stakeholders was adopted.
He argued that the Centre’s counter-terrorism policy had failed to bring peace either in KP or Balochistan and called for a change in approach. “A shift in policy is necessary. KP can establish peace within 100 days,” he said.
Late on Wednesday evening, PTI workers from Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal welcomed the CM in his hometown of Bara as he travelled towards Peshawar as part of the party’s march.
Addressing supporters from atop a truck, Mr Afridi said no pressure tactic could weaken his resolve and again vowed not to allow further military operations in KP.
He said the rights of the province would be pursued and announced that the future strategy for the march would be unveiled on reaching Swabi.
The CM and participants in the march were expected to stay overnight in Bara before leaving for Peshawar.
Cabinet resolution for Federal government
The provincial cabinet approved forwarding to the federal government a joint resolution adopted by the KP Assembly condemning an incident in which the CM was allegedly taken away by Punjab Police in a vehicle, separated from his security detail and later left on the roadside without security during a visit to Punjab.
The cabinet also approved obtaining $250m in World Bank financing for the READY-KP project under the bank’s applicable financing terms.
