PTI must apologise to Fazl, says Kundi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to apologise for its past statements and criticism directed at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

Speaking to journalists in Nowshera, Kundi said PTI’s current political position appeared different from its earlier stance towards Fazlur Rehman. He said the party should acknowledge its previous remarks and offer an apology.

The governor also criticised PTI’s approach towards the judiciary, saying the party had celebrated certain court decisions in the past but later faced adverse verdicts from the same judicial system.

Kundi said PTI supporters had previously distributed sweets when courts issued decisions they considered favourable. However, he noted that subsequent decisions by courts resulted in PTI founder Imran Khan being sent to jail.

He argued that political parties should maintain a consistent position on state institutions and should not support institutions only when their decisions favour them.

Turning to the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kundi strongly criticised the provincial government and accused it of failing to address the province’s major governance and security challenges.

He alleged that political activities and what he described as political drama surrounding Adiala Jail and D-Chowk had continued for years, while the province faced serious issues related to law and order.

The governor claimed that the security situation had deteriorated and alleged that the province was being left vulnerable to militants. He said restoring peace and ensuring effective governance should be the government’s primary responsibilities.

Kundi also pointed to what he described as a significant change in PTI’s political relationships. He said the party now regarded Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mahmood Khan Achakzai as important political allies or figures, despite its previous criticism of them.

He said the change in political positioning made it even more important for PTI to address its past statements against Fazlur Rehman.

The governor’s comments come amid continued political disagreements between the federal and provincial governments, with security, governance and political alliances remaining major areas of contention.