Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Sunday to discuss the province's political and security situation amid speculation that the federal government could consider governor’s rule or an emergency.
According to a statement issued by Governor House, the two officials discussed security concerns linked to PTI’s march towards Islamabad, including what they described as the risk of militants using the movement of people to cross security checkpoints.
The statement said Naqvi and Kundi agreed that Governor House would perform its constitutional role if the president and prime minister considered governor’s rule or an emergency necessary. No decision to impose either measure was announced.
The meeting also covered the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the political environment and developments arising from PTI’s march.
Governor House criticised the provincial government’s position during recent negotiations with the Centre over counterterrorism measures. The federal government and PTI have traded claims over the reasons negotiations ended without an agreement.
Naqvi and Kundi also criticised the alleged use of helicopters and other provincial government resources by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and provincial ministers for the march, describing it as a violation of an Islamabad High Court ruling.
Kundi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfikar Hameed was also present at the meeting. He said public security remained a priority and called for coordination among institutions to address terrorism.
A government source cited by Dawn claimed that the Centre was seriously considering governor’s rule and described an emergency as imminent. The federal government had not formally announced either measure at the time of the report.
The discussion comes as PTI continues its march towards Islamabad, launched to press demands including the release of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
