Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor criticises PTI march and calls for cabinet to resign

Faisal Karim Kundi challenged PTI marchers to demonstrate that they could cross Swabi. At an October 9 press conference, he also called for Sohail Afridi's provincial cabinet to resign.

Speaking in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor questioned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's ability to take its march beyond the province. Swabi borders Punjab's Attock district and lies on the route under discussion towards Islamabad.

The march began on October 4 to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. The party governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but is in opposition at the federal level. Its route has changed repeatedly. On Friday, participants' arrival in Swabi on October 11 was being discussed.

Kundi accused PTI's leadership of overstating its success in mobilising supporters. He also demanded that Afridi explain the party's claims that cabinet members and lawmakers were being abducted. His call for resignation was tied to his assessment of the government's ability to protect the province's residents.

A separate dispute concerns Kundi's meeting with the provincial chief secretary and police chief to discuss law and order. Afridi called it unconstitutional and sought legislation allowing the governor's impeachment. Kundi defended the meeting as necessary to address security while the provincial leadership was occupied with the march.

The governor accused the PTI administration of paying insufficient attention to terrorism and disputes involving public-sector workers. Those statements were his political criticism of the government, rather than findings from an independent inquiry. He insisted that the provincial administration needed to cooperate with the federal government.

Asked about a possible emergency or governor's rule, Kundi said the decision belonged to the president or prime minister. He said he would provide the federal authorities with information about conditions in the province if they requested a report. He did not announce the introduction of either measure at the press conference.