PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday asked the provincial government to take political parties from the province onboard over the law and order situation before participating in the federal government-proposed multiparty moot on the subject.

Talking to reporters during his visit to Gurdwara Bai Joga Singh in Mohallah Jogan Shah area of the provincial capital, he said law and order was a provincial subject following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, and the chief minister as the head of the province was responsible for the province’s security. However, he claimed the chief minister had done little for maintenance of law and order in the province.

“How the province will function when a judge is kidnapped from my constituency in Dera, army personnel being martyred, a cement company is made to pay ransom, Maulana Fazlur Rehman cannot visit his constituency and the chief minister himself pays ransom to terrorists,” Mr Kundi claimed.

Visits Peshawar gurdwara, promises resolution of Sikh community’s issues

The governor said the provincial government should take the parties from the province and assembly onboard on law and order before heading to the multiparty conference. “We should know what the parties from the province and assembly think on the subject,” he said.

To a question about banning PTI, he said political parties could not be banned.

He, however, said the judiciary should award exemplary punishments to those involved in the May 9, 2023 incidents.

The governor said promotion of interfaith harmony was necessary as tolerance and unity played a pivotal role in maintaining peace in any society.

During the visit, the governor was accompanied by PPP provincial president Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha, former MPA and leader of PPP minority wing Kishore Kumar, Bapir Naseeb Chand, and the party’s divisional president Misbahuddin.

Baba Mahinder Singh, Baba Amir Singh, Magan Singh and others from the Sikh community were also present on the occasion.

While briefing the governor, the elders of the Sikh community informed him that they were an oppressed minority. They said the governor’s presence among them was very encouraging.

Talking to them, the governor said all the minorities of Pakistan were patriotic and part of the society. He said that it was very unfortunate that members of the Sikh community were being assassinated in targeted attacks.

“KP belongs to all of us and the residents of this province have a long list of sacrifices, including those rendered by the members of the Sikh community.”

He assured the Sikh community of resolving their problems at the earliest.

He said members of the Sikh community were facing problems related to issuance of passports, and assured that he would meet the director general passport and immigration in that regard.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2024