PESHAWAR: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s provincial president Amir Muqam said the imposition of Governor’s Rule has become compulsory to establish peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Expressing hope that the law and order situation would improve soon in the province, he said that people would begin to see progress in the province’s development, the minister remarked.
Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Amir Muqam told a news conference here on Monday that despite remaining in power in the province for the past 13 years, it had failed to improve the lives of the people, while public problems continued to multiply.
Reiterating the federal government’s commitment to extend all possible cooperation to the provincial government, the minister said the centre and the KP were on the same page after imposition of the Governor’s Rule in the province.
He went on to say that the government attempted to resolve issues through dialogue, but Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had not cooperated.
Accompanied by the former senator Behramand Tangi and Rehmat Salam Khattak, the minister said the imposition of Governor’s Rule in the province had become a compulsion for the federal government and that the step had been taken in accordance with the Constitution to restore peace, initiate development projects and rebuild public confidence.
He expressed the hope that all institutions under the governor’s leadership would work in coordination to eliminate terrorism and focus on development schemes aimed at improving public welfare.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally monitoring the process of change in the province and that serious efforts would be made to ensure development and improve living conditions in KP, bringing them closer to those in other developed parts of the country.
Criticising the PTI’s protest politics, Muqam said the public had rejected this approach, adding that people had not turned out for protests despite the chief minister’s calls.
He also welcomed what he described as a peaceful transfer of power following the imposition of Governor’s Rule.
The minister termed the 11-member advisory council an experienced, capable and committed team that would work for the province’s betterment.
Amir Muqam alleged that Afridi had neither served the province effectively nor cooperated with the federal government and relevant institutions in the fight against terrorism.
He further accused the former chief minister of undermining the ongoing negotiations.
The minister said he had held meetings with the governor, chief secretary and inspector general of police, adding that all roadblocks would be removed within a day or two to ensure the free movement of citizens.
Expressing optimism about the province’s future, Muqam said the era of alleged corruption and misappropriation had ended and that decisions would now be made on merit.
Asked why Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not been given an opportunity to play a role in the negotiations, Muqam said the JUI-F leader was free to offer his services or contribute in any way he wished.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026