MANSEHRA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Kareem Kundi on Thursday alleged that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was involved in massive corruption in the province.

He also insisted that the chief minister couldn’t obtain a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly.

“Ministers are quitting the cabinet over the chief minister’s corruption and favouritism, so if asked, he won’t be able to get a trust vote from fellow lawmakers,” Mr Kundi told reporters here after attending Hazara University’s 14th convocation.

The governor alleged that the chief minister was involved in “bidding” for posting and transfer orders and after reports about it emerged, he formed committees to cover it up.

says Kundi can’t obtain trust vote from PA

He said that the ruling PTI was rudderless and considered the once rival JUI-F its saviour.

“The PTI leaders are holding political dialogue with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman considering him to be their saviour in the current political situation without taking their provincial president and the chief minister on board,” he said.

Mr Kundi said that he was ready to resign if the party leadership wanted to replace him with a representative of Mr Fazl.

He accused the PTI government of failing to maintain law and order and criticised it over the presence of militants.

The governor also complained that local body members from the ruling party were baton-charged and tear-gassed during a peaceful protest in Peshawar.

Earlier at the convocation, Kundi urged educated youth to leverage their knowledge to address the country’s socioeconomic challenges and embrace the era of artificial intelligence to advance the nation.

“You are the future of our nation, so you should utilise your abilities and potential to help the country progress,” he told young students.

Vice Chancellor Dr Mohsan Nawaz said that Hazara University was providing quality education through its 32 departments.

He said degrees were given away to over 600 students with 90 golden medals awarded for academic excellence.

Meanwhile, a graduate carried the Palestinian flag and a portrait of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini onto the stage to receive his degree when his name was announced.

He shouted slogans for Palestine and against Israel and the US.

When guards tried to stop him, the governor intervened and called the graduate over.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2024