Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has alleged that a political party chief is unhappy over being excluded from the process leading to the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and not being appointed the province’s governor.
Speaking to journalists in Lahore, Naqvi claimed that the politician had remained dependent on the establishment for decades to advance his political career.
“These are the same politicians who remained in politics for decades with the support of the establishment, and this politician even relied on the establishment to arrange air tickets for the members of his party,” he alleged.
Naqvi said such politicians had little justification for criticising others after benefiting from the same system they now denounced.
“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,” the minister said.
Naqvi’s remarks came days after the federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP, citing what it described as the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from counter-terrorism efforts.
The decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and other political figures, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Political tensions between the federal government and the opposition, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had intensified in the days leading up to the decision. The PTI, which was governing KP, had announced a protest march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan.
Negotiations between the government and the opposition failed to produce a breakthrough despite intensive discussions in the week before governor’s rule was imposed. Fazlur Rehman was seen as a potential mediator capable of easing tensions between the two sides, which had reportedly held separate meetings with him to seek his intervention.
Following the federal government’s decision, Fazlur Rehman accused it of reneging on its commitments during his mediation efforts.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, he said the JUI-F rejected the imposition of governor’s rule in KP in its entirety. He vowed to challenge the decision through all available democratic and constitutional forums, including public platforms, parliament and the courts.
“We are not prepared to bow, even for a moment, before such unconstitutional measures,” he said.
During his interaction with journalists, Naqvi also questioned the lack of political opposition to what he described as the longstanding failure to provide former tribal districts with their rightful share of resources.
“When the districts … were not getting their rightful share for years, why were these people silent?” he asked.
The minister said political leaders had failed to raise their voices for the rights of residents of the former tribal areas in the past. He stressed that the rights and resources of these communities should be treated as matters above political interests.
Naqvi also highlighted the serious security challenges facing KP and urged political leaders to play a constructive role in restoring peace and combating terrorism.
“Instead of fanning the flames and creating unrest, political leaders should play their role in restoring law and order and eliminating terrorism,” he said.
He maintained that the province needed peace, stability and collective action rather than further political confrontation.
