The governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Faisal Karim Kundi has said that the liberation of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan of prison seems unlikely, and adds that his children are not expected to return to Pakistan.
When addressing Senior journalists in Peshawar on Saturday, Kundi dismissed speculation about the participation of Khan’s children, Sulaiman and Kasim, in the next PTI protest campaign. “It is very unlikely to return,” he said, reiterating that the perspectives of the liberation of Imran Khan are still thin.
Earlier this month, Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, said that both children would join the party’s anti -government protest movement, which is expected to begin in August. He had also declared that the former prime minister would direct the campaign “from inside the prison.”
The reports suggest that Khan’s children have held meetings with key figures in the United States before their possible visit to Pakistan.
However, Governor Kundi seemed derogatory of these developments, describing them as political optics instead of reality.
In the broader political and administrative front, the governor emphasized the need for a tribal jirga to address unresolved problems in the old tribal areas administered by the Federal Government (Fata). He proposed that the Jirga include tribal elders, former parliament and political stakeholders in the region.
“The fusion of Fata with KP cannot be undone without a constitutional amendment,” he said, urging the Federal Government to release the development funds that were promised at the time of merger.
Returning to the security situation in the province, Kundi painted a gloomy image. “The situation of the law and order is serious. Extortion is being openly collected, even in broad daylight, merchants, local leaders and common citizens,” he said. “In Dera Ismail Khan, people avoid leaving their homes after Asr’s prayers due to fear.”
He also criticized what he called the Federal Government -centered approach to national initiatives. “The schemes such as the laptop program, youth development projects and Daanish schools have excluded KP’s youth,” he said.
When commenting on the state of sports infrastructure, Kundi described the renewal of the Arbab Niaz de Peshawar stadium as poor and said that the lack of quality sports facilities was one of the reasons why Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches have not been held in the province.
In PTI’s internal policy, the governor said the party faced a deep faction in KP. “They can’t even get 20 vehicles for their planned protest on August 5,” he concluded.
