ISLAMABAD: Senator Faisal Vawda said on Tuesday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s new administrative setup could change if it failed to deliver. He stressed that the province had “no chance for failure”.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, the former PTI leader expressed hope that KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would perform well. However, he warned that performance would determine the governor’s future.
“If Faisal Kundi does not perform, he will be replaced,” Vawda said. “If they cannot perform, someone else will come, but success is certain. We have no chance for failure.”
Vawda expects the new setup to show results within 60 days. He also predicted that residents would receive relief within 180 days.
“The public only cares about relief. Everything will now be based on performance,” he said. He added that the new arrangement had emerged through the democratic system.
Vawda defends emergency in KP
Vawda supported the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He argued that the decision served the interests of the province’s residents.
“The law-and-order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was alarming. The emergency had become inevitable,” he said.
KP entered a new administrative arrangement last Sunday after President Asif Ali Zardari approved emergency and governor’s rule. The move displaced the PTI-led provincial government from its executive role.
President Zardari approved the summary on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The federal cabinet had recommended the move following reports about the province’s law-and-order situation.
Under the new arrangement, Governor Kundi performs provincial government functions on behalf of the federation. An 11-member advisory council assists him, while Parliament exercises the provincial assembly’s legislative powers.
Vawda criticises PTI’s 13-year rule
Turning to his former party, Vawda described PTI’s 13 years in power in KP as “nothing but destruction”. He accused the party of failing to improve education and healthcare.
“You are at zero in education and health. You did nothing in 13 years,” he said.
Vawda also alleged that PTI had a “nexus with terrorists”. He questioned who was responsible for what he described as a 195% increase in terrorism.
“Our soldiers are being martyred in terrorist incidents. We have to eliminate terrorism,” he said. He added that civilians and security personnel continued to sacrifice their lives in the fight against militancy.
The senator also dismissed speculation about dividing the province or changing its territorial status.
“Neither is the province going to be broken up, nor is anything else going to happen,” he said.
‘Looking at option to reboot Pakistan’
Vawda said authorities were considering an option to “reboot” Pakistan but did not explain what the proposal would involve.
“We are looking at the option of rebooting Pakistan,” he said. He also claimed that no political party currently possessed sufficient “political capital”.
According to Vawda, the public would no longer respond to “false slogans”. He further claimed that figures who once highlighted their popularity on social media had now disappeared from public view.
He said authorities would address what he called “political terrorism, state terrorism and terrorism against the country”. He also warned that they would not spare “economic terrorism”.
Vawda alleged that some arrests had involved “collusion” but provided no further details. He also claimed that eight members of the KP cabinet had contacted him.
Referring to his former party, the senator said he had told eight of his PTI friends that the “show was over”.
Proclamation cites security concerns
The presidential proclamation imposing emergency in KP cited an increase in terrorist attacks and extremist activities. These included attacks on infrastructure, government installations and law enforcement agencies.
The proclamation also accused the former provincial government of lacking the “ownership, will and intent” needed to tackle terrorism and lawlessness. In addition, it referred to the governor’s report, which indicated a “breakdown of the constitutional machinery”.
