Kundi rules out governor's rule in K-P

Kundi also claimed that the PTI had no clear direction regarding its planned long march, alleging that some of its own parliamentarians were calling the police and requesting to be arrested.

Kundi's remarks followed speculation over the possibility of Governor's Rule after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that the federal government was consulting the Law Ministry on legal options for K-P, including Governor's Rule.

The speculation was subsequently rejected by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who said on Tuesday that the federal government had no intention of imposing Governor's Rule in K-P. He said the province needed "people's rule" and good governance instead. However, other PML-N leaders associated with the government described Governor's Rule as one of the available options during television debates.

He also dismissed a columnist's claim made during a television debate that names were being considered for appointing a new governor from outside the PPP to maintain a balance of power. Kundi, who belongs to the PPP, described the claim as a figment of the claimant's imagination.

The governor said the K-P government's confusion was also evident in its move to alter police control through the K-P Police Act 2026 bill approved by the provincial cabinet. He alleged the proposed legislation aimed to give the chief minister greater operational control over the police and allow its use for political purposes.

Kundi said that if circumstances ever warranted the imposition of Governor's Rule, any such step would be taken through the constitutional and legal process, with the relevant authorities acting through the proper channel.

He, however, stopped short of ruling out any future change, saying circumstances could change "in an instant" and that predicting tomorrow was impossible, particularly in the prevailing situation. The issue has gained prominence amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led K-P administration ahead of the party's planned September 27 march on Islamabad.

The IHC directed provincial and federal authorities to ensure that public funds, government officials, vehicles and other state resources are not used to facilitate the march. K-P authorities subsequently issued similar directions to government departments.