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DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 28 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday hit out at the provincial government, saying it badly failed to ensure peace in the province.
Addressing a press conference here at Gomal University, he said that unlike the PTI which is currently ruling the province with showing poor performance on all fronts, the PPP had made sincere efforts for the prosperity of the province.
As part of efforts, he said an All-Party Conference (APC) was convened at the Governor House, which was attended by all political parties of the province except the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The governor emphasized that the sole purpose of the APC was to establish peace.
He said the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had instead invited only five or six parties in a conference which was held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad.
The governor described it as an attempt to create division.
Governor Kundi also discussed ongoing development projects in the province, such as the Chashma Lift Canal, which is being funded by the Saudi Bank. He stated that the completion of this project would bring a green revolution to the region.
Moreover, he said, the efforts were being made for establishment of Dera Ismail Khan International Airpor but accused the provincial government of creating hurdles in this regard.
Faisal Karim Kundi also claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was repeatedly seeking an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) in the name of negotiations. “I always asked them that their cases would be dealt in the courts,” he said.
Referring to the 14-year sentence given to PTI’s founder chairman, the governor noted that the party did not demonstrated any protest against the verdict which meant they had accepted the decision.
Governor Kundi also raised concerns about the weaknesses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s police force, saying, the provincial government has gotten additional amount of Rs 500 billion under NFC award during last 13 years. But, he said the KP police were taking low salaries as compared to the police departments of other provinces. The KP police do not have modern equipments or bullet-proof vehicles.
He urged the provincial government to support the police and other law enforcement agencies to effectively combat terrorism.
Commenting on the issue of negotiations with Afghanistan, the Governor reiterated Pakistan’s clear stance that Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan.
He referenced previous negotiations between the PTI’s government and terrorists, noting that these groups later took up arms again.
The governor stressed that the PPP had always worked to provide employment opportunities to people and would continue to protect the rights of government employees, particularly in relation to job terminations.
Replying to a question about the PECA act, he said that the government would address the grievances of journalists through dialogue and negotiations.