In K-P, martyrs’ heirs to get 200 posts in police

Women caucus members threaten protest on being ignored for foreign trips

PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Thursday announced that as many as 200 new posts will be created in the provincial police department which will be dedicated for heirs of the police officers martyred in the line of duty.

This was announced by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Law Minister Sultan Muhammad Khan as the provincial assembly resumed on Thursday.

With a call-to-attention notice (CAN) moved about the employment of family members of slain police officers, Awami National Party (ANP) lawmaker Shagufta Malik said that the sacrifices of K-P police have been acknowledged the world over. But despite rendering such huge sacrifices, their families have yet to be given any relief and as many as 200 children of Peshawar police martyrs were still waiting for jobs which had been allocated for them under the martyrs’ quota.

Responding to the notice, the provincial law minister said the government has decided to create new posts to provide the heirs of police martyrs with jobs. The creation of these posts will cost the government an additional Rs76.311 million.

Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani chaired the provincial assembly session.

During the session, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) parliamentary leader Inayatullah Khan stated that Malakand, being the largest division of the province, should be bifurcated into two parts.

Sultan agreed to Inayatullah’s suggestion, adding that the finance ministry also supports it and the matter will be raised in the next meeting of the provincial cabinet.

Advisor to the Chief Minister on industries Abdul Kareem said that Malakand division has been ignored in the past when it comes to the establishment of industrial zones to provide jobs to locals.

“An industrial zone will be established under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) in the Rashakai area of Mardan,” he said.

JI leader Inayatullah Khan also raised the issue of the National Financial Commission (NFC) award. Sultan assured that it was an important issue on which all political parties of the province agree and that the rights of the province will not be compromised.

ANP leader Khushdil Khan and Salahuddin said that in the name of intelligence-based operations, night raids were being conducted in the Suleimankhel, Mashukhel, Maryam Zai, Mara Sorizai Paiyan and Upper Aurmar areas.

Both leaders claimed that these operations were illegal because they violated the sanctity of houses. They went on to argue that no terrorists were arrested during these raids but peaceful residents were harassed. The speaker referred the matter to the relevant committee for a detailed review.

The issue of compensating residents, whose lands were acquired for the construction of the Hazara Motorway, was also raised during the session.

Speaker Ghani ordered early payment of dues to the residents and referred the matter to the committee.

The assembly also approved the ‘Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Rescue Amendment Bill, 2020.

Women caucus protest

Women lawmakers from opposition parties in the K-P Assembly on Thursday threatened to resign from the women caucus to protest against the misuse of the forum by the treasury benches.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Nighat Orakzai raised the point in the session that the women caucus had been formed for women lawmakers from all political parties in the assembly to create legislation for women. However, she alleged that members of the treasury benches were ignoring them. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2020.