Rejects charge against Sindh govt over traffic congestion during CM’s recent visit to Karachi
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi speaks to the media on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday warned that the law and order situation in the province had deteriorated drastically and criticized the prime minister for traveling to other provinces for political protests while the province remained mired in violence.
In a press conference, Kundi urged the provincial government to stop “playing both sides of the field” and fully support state institutions in the fight against terrorism. He said police personnel, soldiers and government employees were attacked daily across the province.
Referring to the recent incidents, the governor cited the killing of police officers in Tank, a district of KP, a rise in terrorist attacks in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and other districts, stressing that the situation required urgent attention from the provincial leadership. He recalled that seven police officers were martyred when a police armored personnel carrier was hit by an improvised explosive device while traveling from Gomal to Tank.
Read: CTD kills six terrorists in targeted operations in KP
Kundi said military operations were underway to restore peace, but questioned whether the provincial government was being serious enough to address the threat. He called for strengthening the operational capacity of the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and questioned whether Levies staff merged with the police force had received adequate training.
Referring to the use of drones to carry explosives in Tank and DI Khan, Kundi said such attacks required technical expertise. “If this terrorism is not carried out from Afghanistan, who is doing it?” he asked, adding that instead of demanding evidence elsewhere, the prime minister should seek detailed information from the inspector general of police and security agencies.
The governor said internally displaced people were arriving from areas like Kurram and needed to be cared for properly. He urged political parties and institutions to unite against terrorism, noting that despite reservations, his party had participated in the president’s all-party conference for the sake of peace.
Read more: PTI holds rally in Karachi despite challenges
Taking direct aim at the prime minister, Kundi criticized him for leaving the province to organize protests in other provinces while KP was “on fire”. He also rejected allegations against the Sindh government over traffic congestion during the prime minister’s recent visit to Karachi, saying complete protocols and security were provided and no political activities were obstructed.
Kundi warned that the worsening security situation was discouraging investment despite the discovery of oil, gas and mineral resources in the southern and amalgamated districts. “How will investors come if not even the police are safe?” asked.
He also called on the federal government to announce mega development projects for KP, stating that the province had not received any in the last two years. He urged the prime minister to visit the province and support institutions operating in difficult conditions.
Lamenting the governance of the last 13 years, the governor said KP was lagging behind other provinces in health, education and infrastructure, noting that no cricket stadium of international standard had been built. He added that the province’s players still deserve fair representation in the national cricket team.
In politics, Kundi accused the provincial government of indirectly giving space to the banned TTP and warned that Talibanization cannot be tolerated. He described the May 9 riots as the darkest chapter in Pakistan’s political history and said strict punishment was necessary to prevent their recurrence, adding that the matter was sub judice and should not be politicized.
He concluded by urging the provincial government to prioritize peace, strengthen institutions, curb corruption and work with the federation to secure the borders and stabilize the province.
Safe Cities Project
Separately, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi chaired a meeting to review the progress of the Safe Cities project, directing authorities to expedite the work and ensure its completion within the stipulated timelines. According to a report, the Peshawar Safe City project will be completed by January 31, 2026, with the installation of 711 modern cameras at 133 locations.
The project is being extended to divisional headquarters and merged districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat, while PC-I documents have been prepared for Karak, Tank and North Waziristan. Surveys for the merged districts have been completed and the entire province will be incorporated into the Safe City system gradually.
