Naqvi claims political leader wanted KP governorship

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has claimed that a political party chief is unhappy over being denied the position of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor under the province’s new administrative arrangement. Although Naqvi did not identify the individual, his remarks appeared to refer to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has strongly criticised the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule in the province.

Speaking to journalists in Lahore on Friday, Naqvi alleged that the unnamed politician was disappointed at not receiving a role in the new setup in KP. He also accused the leader of relying on the establishment for political support over several decades.

The interior minister further alleged that the politician had previously depended on the establishment even to arrange air tickets for members of his party. He argued that political leaders who had benefited from the same system should present their criticism through facts and arguments rather than personal allegations or inappropriate language.

Naqvi’s comments come amid growing political tensions following the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule and emergency measures in KP. The Centre has defended the move by accusing the provincial administration of failing to cooperate adequately in counterterrorism efforts. Opposition parties, however, have challenged the decision and questioned the federal government’s intentions.

Fazlur Rehman has emerged as one of the prominent critics of the move. Before governor’s rule was imposed, he was viewed as a potential mediator between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), which was governing KP. Separate meetings with both sides had raised hopes of easing tensions after negotiations over political demands and the release of former prime minister Imran Khan failed to produce an agreement.

Following the imposition of governor’s rule, Fazl accused the federal government of backing away from its commitments despite his efforts to facilitate dialogue. He also argued that the decision undermined provincial autonomy and deprived the province of its constitutional rights.

Addressing a public gathering in Multan on Thursday, the JUI-F chief raised questions about the federal government’s justification for taking control of the provincial administration. He pointed to the security situation in Balochistan and questioned why similar measures had not been taken there.

Fazl alleged that the federal government was targeting KP because PTI was in power in the province. He also expressed concerns about the control of resources in the former tribal districts, which were merged with KP through the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018.

He said his party had raised concerns about the merger at the time, arguing that the political future of residents in the former tribal areas required proper consultation. He maintained that the issue involved the rights and representation of local communities.

Responding to concerns over the distribution of resources, Naqvi questioned why political leaders had remained silent for years when the former tribal districts were allegedly denied their rightful share. He stressed that the rights and resources of residents in these areas should not become a tool for political confrontation.

The interior minister also called on political leaders to support efforts to restore peace in KP. He said the province faced serious security challenges and urged political parties to focus on counterterrorism and law and order instead of escalating political tensions.

Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz criticised Fazlur Rehman in a post on X. She said a senior politician should not support those accused of facilitating terrorism, in an apparent reference to PTI and the allegations levelled against it by the federal government.

Maryam also accused the PTI leadership of contributing to the province’s problems through incompetence, mismanagement and corruption. She criticised Fazl’s remarks concerning Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, linking them to his objections over the centralisation of power.

The Punjab chief minister concluded that PTI itself was responsible for losing control of the KP government, further highlighting the widening political divide over the federal government’s decision and the future of provincial governance.