The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday echoed with calls for controlling the deteriorating public order situation in the province, stopping attacks on police and security forces as well as eliminating threats being given to MPAs by extremists.
Holding the government responsible for the current deteriorating law and order situation in the province, the opposition attacked the chief executive and administration, questioning how an “unelected person” was negotiating with the Taliban as a government spokesperson. “Who will answer our questions in the assembly?”
The opposition called for the government to formulate its own policy, while the treasury benches urged for unity in the fight against terrorists.
On Monday, the assembly session started under the chairmanship of Speaker Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani. After the recitation of the Holy Quran, Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Nighat Yasmin Orkazai said that policemen were martyred due to terrorist activities in different areas of the province.
“I salute their martyrdom and express my condolences to their families,” she said, questioning that despite all the regulations and blockades, where did these beasts come from?
Awami National Party MPA Khushdil Khan said, “FIRs alone will not give results. Due to the negligence and carelessness of the government, no action has been taken yet.
“We are not going to be afraid if the government does not do anything … we are ready even today.”
He said, “Sardar Babak is receiving continuous threats.” He added that the government should increase the security of the MPAs, citing the protocol given to ministers.
He called for bringing forward the names of miscreants who were making threats, saying that attacks on the police were taking place every day.
PTI member Pakhtun Yar Khan said that last month, three people from Nayabat Constituency were kidnapped in North Waziristan and their bodies were found in Mir Ali Bazar the next day. “Such actions in the presence of forces are unjust.”
On protesting this incident, the administration took action and arrested people, he said, demanding that they should be released otherwise “I will lead this sit-in”.
ANP Parliamentary Leader Sardar Babak said, “MPA Faisal Zeb's house was raided and he is being threatened for extortion. I was attacked three times.”
He said police personnel were attacked in Lakki Marwat, Shabqadar, Katlang, Akora Khattak, adding that the major problem in the province was unrest.
“There is no investment here, as the investors have left the province due to terrorist threats,” he said, asking what the government policy was on the ongoing wave of terrorism.
“To what extent the state is fulfilling its responsibility,” he said. “The silence of the government is like rubbing salt on the wounds of the people. These threats are not only to ANP but PTI MPs are also suffering from anxiety.
“The people of Buner and Swat have taken to the streets for the sake of peace. Why is the chief executive of the province silent?”
PML-N Parliamentary Leader Sardar Yusuf said, “When the MPAs are receiving threats, how will the common man be safe? PTI has been in power for 10 years but the peace situation is deteriorating.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2022.
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