Peshawar, January 16,2025: A high-level meeting in Peshawar, chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, witnessed a tense confrontation between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, sources revealed on Thursday.
According to a private news channel, the clash began when the governor raised the issue of a Rs500 billion allocation under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. The governor reportedly accused the chief minister of making misleading claims about the funds. In retaliation, Gandapur walked out of the meeting, accusing the governor of lying.
Amid the tension, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali is reported to have quipped, “Let it go, this one is just a child,” possibly referring to Gandapur. Shortly after, the chief minister returned to the meeting.
During the verbal exchange, the governor also raised concerns regarding the utilization of federal funds allocated for counter-terrorism initiatives in KP. He questioned why, despite receiving significant financial resources, the provincial police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) remained underfunded and poorly equipped.
The governor reiterated that KP had received Rs500 billion under the NFC for counter-terrorism efforts and demanded greater accountability in its spending.
When asked by the news channel about his interaction with the chief minister, Governor Kundi responded cryptically, “You have received incorrect information.”
The altercation took place during COAS Munir’s visit to Peshawar, where he met with prominent provincial leaders. During the meeting, the army chief underscored the importance of political stability, stating, “If there is a state, there is politics. God forbid, without a state, there is nothing.”
