Tariq Saeed
With the war of words between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi of Pakistan People’s Party was intensifying over hurling challenges to each other, the situation is feared to take unpleasant turn as the PPP leadership had decided to invite Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to Governor House Peshawar in the days to come in response to CM Kundi’s challenge to stop Bilawal from entering Governors House.
On the other hand, Gandapur has also banned Governor Kundi’s entry to KP house in Islamabad and the administration of the KP house has taken over Governor’ Suit to there.
Though the sane attitude on part of the Governor KP offering olive branch to the Ali Amin pacified the situation to some extent yet the things are not moving towards positive direction.
Gandapur, it may be recalled, had earlier said that Governor Faisal Karim Kundi cannot enter the KP House. “If I challenge, even Bilawal Bhutto Zardari cannot make it to the KP Governor House”. Amin is reported to have said this apparently in response to talks of imposition of Governor Rule in PTI-run Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also advised Bilawal to either build a new Governor’s House for Faisal Karim Kundi or provide a place to him in Sindh House.
“We accept a challenge from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, who had ‘threatened’ to bar the party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from entering the Governor House,” PPP leadership had said according to sources.
The PPP sources said that the party has decided to invite Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to KP Governor House, the first visit of the PPP chairman to Peshawar after the appointment of the new Governor of KP Faisal Karim Kundi.
The cold war between the two leaders of the rival parties appeared to have started when Gandapur, amid talks of imposition of Governor’s rule, addressing a public gathering in D I Khan a few days back had threatened to occupy the governor’s house if the governor’s rule was imposed in the province.
The chief minister said he was not afraid of the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, if it was imposed, the people would occupy both the Governor’s House and CM House as only people’s rule is permissible in the province. “When I was arrested, they took me to Karachi. If forced, I can pick their supporters and bring them to KP”. Gandapur is reported to have said.
Responding to Gandapur’s statement, Faisal Karim Kundi said he knew how to protect the Governor’s House if Gandapur attacked it. The PPP sources said that Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto would not only stay at the Governor House but would also hold meetings with party leaders and workers and the schedule of his visit was being finalized.
However, in the latest development, Governor Faisal KarimKundi has said he was not only committed to safeguarding the rights of the KP but wanted to achieve the target through collaborated efforts with the PTI led KP government.
In a media talk in Multan the other day Governor had extended open invitation to all parties including the ruling PTI in KP to work together and even invited CM Gandapur to Governor house to chalk out effective strategy for the prosperity of the people and secure due rights of the province.
In fact the harsh statements and threatening language from the both sides supporters are neither going to benefit any party nor are in the interest of the province that needs harmony between the two big bosses. They must be mindful that there may be forces waiting to take advantage while fishing in the troubled waters.
It will be advisable on part of the leadership of both the parties to avoid such situations that further stain the already bitter relations, in the larger interest of the Province. Instead, both CM Gandapur and Governor Kundi should sit together and work hand in hand for the welfare and development of the militancy hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province besides waging a joint struggle for achieving province’s due rights.
Coordinated efforts by the CM Gandapur of PTI and Governor Kundi, who carries lot of influence in the Federal Government, would definitely yield results especially in achieving rights of the KP from the federation. Failing which is likely to lead to negativity consequences and badly harm the interests of the province.
