Key Takeaways
- Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi alleges the head of a political party is upset over not being appointed KP governor.
- Naqvi claims the party leader has been dependent on the establishment for decades.
- The opposition criticizes the federal government's imposition of governor's rule in KP.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has alleged that the head of a political party is extremely upset over not being appointed the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
In a statement to journalists in Lahore, Naqvi claimed that the party leader, who is not named, is 'extremely upset over being denied a role in the new setup in KP and not getting the governorship.'
Naqvi specifically mentioned Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor's rule in KP.
Naqvi alleged that the party leader has remained 'dependent on the establishment for decades to advance his political career.'
He further stated that such politicians had little justification for criticising others now, particularly after having benefitted from the same system they currently denounced.
Naqvi's remarks come days after the federal government imposed governor's rule and emergency in KP, citing the provincial government's 'deliberate disengagement' from the fight against terrorism.
The move has drawn criticism from the opposition, including Fazl, as well as Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan.
In the days preceding the imposition of governor's rule, political tensions between the Centre and the opposition had remained high, with the PTI, which was in power in KP, announcing a protest march to demand the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Intense negotiations between the two sides a week before the imposition of governor's rule had failed to yield any results, with Fazl cast as the man who could defuse the heightening tensions between the Centre and the PTI.
After the federal government imposed governor's rule, Fazl accused the Centre of reneging on its commitments amid his efforts for mediation.
Addressing a rally in Multan, Fazl recalled that his party had expressed reservations over the merger of tribal areas into KP after the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, alleging that the people of those areas were not consulted on the merger.
He raised doubts over the Centre's reasoning behind imposing governor's rule, suggesting that the security situation in Balochistan was worse than it was in KP.
The head of a party is extremely upset over being denied a role in the new setup in KP and not getting the governorship.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Interior Minister
Political differences are part of politics. But instead of using inappropriate language and making allegations, political leaders should speak on the basis of arguments and facts.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Interior Minister
