Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur lambasted the federal government over the ongoing electricity load shedding crisis in the province.
He accused the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of discrimination and neglect towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that no damage had been inflicted on any WAPDA assets by the provincial government.
Gandapur’s speech highlighted a deepening rift between the provincial and federal administrations. “These people have stolen the mandate and are illegitimately sitting in government,” Gandapur declared. “I know how they got into power and how they can be removed. It is the federal government’s responsibility to end load shedding. If power from the national grid is reduced, I will shut down the electricity.”
The Chief Minister’s frustration was palpable as he issued a stern ultimatum to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, demanding the release of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s allocated funds. “This is the last warning to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: give us the province’s money. The federal government owes us 16 billion rupees. If the funds are not released, we will inform the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” he threatened.
Gandapur further accused the federal government of taking loans in the province’s name without disbursing the corresponding funds. “They take money on our behalf but don’t give it to us. No one can stop us from claiming our rights,” he asserted. In a dramatic call to action, he urged all provincial parliamentarians to visit WAPDA grids and restore electricity themselves if the federal government fails to act.