Minister says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s administrative arrangement is intended to address terrorism, as political tensions rise over governor’s rule and Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s criticism.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has rejected suggestions that the administrative setup introduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is intended for political coalition-building or power-sharing, saying the arrangement was not designed to serve individual political interests.
His remarks came amid an escalating political dispute over the federal government’s imposition of emergency rule in the province and criticism from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also criticised Fazlur Rehman’s recent comments, particularly his assessment of the province’s law and order situation.
The federal government has defended its intervention by citing security concerns, while political disagreements continue over the province’s administration and the appropriate response to militancy.
Talal Chaudhry says KP setup is not for political gain
Chaudhry said the provincial arrangement was not intended to accommodate political ambitions or distribute positions among political parties.
“I had not expected this from Maulana Sahib,” he said, according to Geo News, adding that he did not wish to make remarks that could offend the JUI-F chief.
The minister’s comments followed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s earlier remarks about an unnamed political party leader who, Naqvi claimed, was disappointed at not receiving the KP governorship or a role in the new administrative arrangement.
Naqvi did not identify the politician in his reported remarks. Chaudhry subsequently referred directly to Fazlur Rehman while expressing disagreement with the JUI-F chief’s position.
The allegation that Fazlur Rehman sought a share in the administrative arrangement remains a claim attributed to government figures, rather than an independently established fact.
Dispute grows over Fazlur Rehman’s remarks
Chaudhry also questioned Fazlur Rehman’s references to the events of 1971, a defining and painful chapter in Pakistan’s history that culminated in the separation of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.
The minister questioned why the JUI-F chief had raised the historical episode in the context of the 2024 general elections. He described some of Fazlur Rehman’s remarks as harsh and said he believed they did not befit the stature of a senior political and religious leader.
The disagreement reflects broader tensions between the federal government and opposition figures over the political implications of the emergency measures in KP.
Fazlur Rehman has criticised the provincial intervention and raised concerns about governance and security. The government’s response has focused on defending the measures as necessary to address the security situation.
KP governor disputes claims about law and order
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi separately expressed disappointment over Fazlur Rehman’s speech, saying he had not expected such remarks from a senior politician.
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Kundi referred to the JUI-F chief’s assertion that he could not move freely in his own area and his criticism of the provincial government’s performance on law and order.
The governor rejected the suggestion that the KP government had made no efforts to restore peace or maintain security.
Kundi also alleged that decisions made by the previous provincial government had originated in Kabul and Kandahar rather than Islamabad. That assertion represents the governor’s political assessment and should not be treated as an independently verified finding.
The competing statements underline the deep divisions over responsibility for the province’s security challenges and the effectiveness of previous government policies.
Emergency rule remains at the centre of the dispute
The controversy follows the federal government’s imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, 2026. The move suspended the PTI-led provincial government and triggered a wider political confrontation.
The federal government cited security concerns and militant violence in support of the intervention. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose founder is former prime minister Imran Khan, has opposed the move and challenged it as politically motivated.
Parliament’s joint sitting approved the presidential proclamation of emergency on October 15, according to the National Assembly’s official record.
The decision has intensified debate about provincial governance, constitutional authority, counterterrorism policy and the political future of KP.
