Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has agreed to play his constitutional role if the president and prime minister deem governor's rule or an emergency necessary in the province, according to a statement issued on Sunday.
The agreement came during a meeting between Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Governor House in Peshawar. The meeting occurred a day after government-opposition negotiations aimed at averting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)) October 4 long march on Islamabad collapsed.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which rules Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and a delegation from the government and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) held three rounds of talks, but they broke down on Sunday morning. Naqvi clarified that the talks had collapsed and blamed the provincial leadership for sabotaging them.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed the primary reason for the failure of the talks was the federal government's insistence that the provincial government must own all counter-terrorism actions unilaterally initiated by the Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the meeting, Kundi and Naqvi discussed the political and security situation in the province, pledging to protect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from terrorism and destruction. They also expressed concern over the worsening law and order situation and the alleged facilitation of elements passing through security checkpoints.
According to the statement, the use of official helicopters and government resources during political demonstrations would constitute a violation of court decisions. The statement added that the Governor House would play its full constitutional role if President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif consider governor's rule or an emergency necessary.
Sources said the provincial police chief also briefed Naqvi on the region's security situation, stating that the police force has been placed on high alert amid the uncertainty. Unnecessary police personnel across various districts have been recalled to police lines, and a strategy has been prepared to mobilise personnel immediately in case of an emergency.