KP’s biggest challenge is law and order, not protests: Governor Kundi

LAHORE, Aug 27 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday said that the province could not afford rallies and protests in the prevailing situation, stressing that law and order was its biggest challenge and needed special attention.

Talking to the media after meeting Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at Mansoorah, the governor said that if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) talked about law and order issues in the province, “we would support it.”

Earlier, Faisal Karim visited Mansoorah to offer condolences to Hafiz Naeemur Rehman over the death of Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ameer-ul-Azeem and offered Fateha for the departed soul.

The governor said that during his meeting with Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, they also discussed issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including law and order and other matters.

He said the province was facing challenges related to law and order, electricity and other issues, adding that concerns and problems of KP were being presented before the federal government with arguments.

Faisal Karim Kundi said whenever the issue of law and order was discussed, they had extended their support and would continue to do so for the prosperity of the province. “If PTI talks about law and order issues in the province, we will support it,” he reiterated.

Expressing sorrow over the incident at PIMS Hospital, the governor said it was a major healthcare facility where people from Islamabad as well as other provinces came for treatment. He said those responsible for the unfortunate incident should be punished.

He said the media highlighted various incidents, including the incident involving a girl in Haripur, but the problems would not be resolved unless those involved were brought to justice.

Regarding the treatment of PTI founder Imran Khan, the governor said PTI was currently running its third government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but had not proposed the name of even a single hospital in the province for his treatment. Instead, it had proposed a private hospital in Islamabad.

He questioned whether, if treatment was provided at a private hospital, the same facility would also be available to every prisoner.

The governor said PTI welcomed the Supreme Court decision allowing meetings with the PTI founder, but questions arose when it did not accept the court’s decision regarding his sentence.

Speaking on the occasion, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman thanked Governor Faisal Karim Kundi for visiting Mansoorah and offering condolences. He said political tolerance demanded that political parties engage in dialogue and exchange views with one another.