Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has strongly opposed the policy of expelling Afghan refugees from the province, calling it an inhumane act worse than the violation of human dignity.

He asserted that he would act according to his policies and traditions, warning that criticism of KP’s police for its counterterrorism efforts would not be tolerated.

Speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister House, Gandapur revealed that when he assumed office, the provincial treasury had funds for only 15 days’ worth of salaries.

However, his administration increased tax revenue by 55% without imposing new taxes and repaid Rs50 billion in debt without borrowing a single rupee, he added.

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Gandapur stated that Rs30 billion had been added to the province’s endowment fund and that ongoing hydropower projects would generate 500 megawatts of electricity by 2028. He emphasised that providing cheap electricity to industries would create employment opportunities.

Additionally, scholarships have been doubled, Zakat assistance has increased from Rs12,000 to Rs25,000, and marriage support for girls has been raised from Rs25,000 to Rs200,000. The government aims to make institutions financially independent by December through the endowment fund.

The chief minister also highlighted efforts to curb illegal mining, which was causing financial losses worth billions. He claimed that Rs5 billion had been earned from just four mining sites, exposing previous financial mismanagement.

Security challenges

Gandapur underscored that the KP faces the most severe security challenges in the country. He criticised past governments and institutions for prioritising political crackdowns over governance, stating that law and order had worsened after Imran Khan’s tenure.

“Our border areas have historically resisted superpowers, and maintaining peace here is crucial,” he said, emphasizing that comparing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Sindh or Punjab is unfair due to differing circumstances.

Financial disputes with the federal government

Gandapur accused the central government of failing to pay Khyber Pakhtunkhwa its due funds, which now exceed Rs2 trillion. He ruled out any possibility of waiving these dues and warned of state-level protests if the province’s financial rights were not upheld.

Reiterating his opposition to the forced deportation of Afghan refugees, Gandapur argued that pushing them out without support is an unacceptable policy failure. He claimed that past government decisions worsened the crisis and questioned why Afghan refugees were not granted Pakistani citizenship.

He disclosed that he had sent terms of reference (TORs) to the Foreign and Interior Ministries regarding negotiations with Afghanistan but received no response. His call for diplomatic dialogue on the refugee issue was dismissed, and he was mocked for his stance.

Gandapur further asserted that the closure of the Torkham border is costing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rs1 billion per month in lost trade revenue. He urged the federal government to move past failed policies and focus on economic revival.

The chief minister criticised efforts to dismantle the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleging that institutions were more focused on political engineering than governance. He warned that suppressing opposition voices and manipulating democracy could lead to national instability, drawing parallels to the events of 1971.

Gandapur also announced that PTI members meeting with Pervez Khattak would be expelled from the party. He revealed that Mahmood Khan had been advised not to leave PTI but chose otherwise, accusing Khattak of political betrayal.

Gandapur confirmed that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent based on performance reviews, with Imran Khan set to receive a full report on the government’s one-year progress. He also lamented that meeting Khan was increasingly difficult due to political constraints.

With security, financial stability, and governance challenges mounting, Gandapur reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s interests while criticising federal mismanagement. His remarks indicate a defiant stance against both central policies and internal party disloyalty, setting the stage for heightened political tensions in the coming months.