Imran Khan’s Release ‘Highly Unlikely’, Says K-P Governor

In a blunt political assessment from Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has stated that Imran Khan’s release from prison seems nearly impossible in the current scenario. He further cast doubt on the involvement of Khan’s sons, Sulaiman and Kasim, in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) much-anticipated protest drive, which is expected to kick off in August.

Speaking to senior journalists on Saturday, Kundi dismissed recent claims made by Khan’s sister Aleema, who suggested that the former prime minister’s sons would return to Pakistan and help steer the party’s political movement from the front. “There’s no indication that either of them is planning a comeback,” Kundi said. “And the talk of Imran Khan’s release is more political speculation than a practical expectation.”

Recent media reports claimed Khan’s sons were in touch with political players in the United States, but the governor was dismissive, branding these developments as little more than optics designed to rally support for a fractured party.

Kundi Highlights Security Concerns and Regional Disparities

Away from the PTI narrative, Kundi painted a troubling picture of K-P’s security landscape. He spoke of extortion rackets operating in broad daylight, particularly in Dera Ismail Khan, where citizens avoid leaving their homes after Asr prayers due to fear of violence. “The law and order situation has deteriorated to an alarming degree,” he warned.

Turning to governance issues, Kundi criticised the central government’s preference for Punjab when rolling out youth and education programs. “Initiatives like the laptop scheme and Daanish Schools continue to sideline K-P’s youth,” he said.

On the matter of FATA’s merger with K-P, Kundi called for a tribal jirga including elders, former lawmakers, and political voices from the region to address lingering grievances. He also demanded that promised development funds be released immediately.

The governor wrapped up with a swipe at PTI’s internal dynamics, claiming the party was now so fragmented in K-P that even a modest protest effort could fall flat. “They won’t even manage 20 vehicles,” he said, adding that Imran Khan’s release wouldn’t resolve the party’s widening internal cracks.