Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Information Advisor, Barrister Saif, dismissed the recent criticism of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's meeting with the Afghan Consul General as "absurd," calling out those who oppose the move as lacking constitutional knowledge.
In his statement, Barrister Saif clarified that under the 18th Amendment, provincial chief ministers are empowered to engage in foreign visits and make agreements. He cited former Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif's international visits and trade deals as examples, also mentioning that Maryam Nawaz held meetings with ambassadors during her tenure as well.
Barrister Saif further emphasized that Chief Minister Gandapur has met foreign ambassadors and consuls in the past and will continue to do so in the future, particularly focusing on enhancing socio-economic and trade relations with Afghanistan. The recent meeting with the Afghan Consul General centered on discussions regarding regional peace and mutual trade.
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This comes after CM Gandapur’s earlier announcement to send a delegation to Afghanistan to negotiate and seek an end to the ongoing violence. He mentioned that despite multiple requests from the Apex Committee to send the delegation, no action was taken.
Federal ministers criticized the announcement, with Defense Minister Khawaja Asif labeling it as an attack on federal authority. Asif asserted in the National Assembly that no province has the mandate to negotiate directly with another country, warning that such actions pose a threat to national security.
