K-P on alert after Waziristan attack

CM Gandapur condemns atrocity; orders stepped-up security

PESHAWAR:

Security has been beefed up across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa following a deadly terrorist attack on a military check post in North Waziristan tribal district.
K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur condemned the attack on security forces check post in the Mir Ali area and ordered enhanced security arrangements across the province. The chief minister said that the menace of terrorism would be wiped out from the country.
Expressing his grief, the chief minister extended condolences to the families of the five personnel, including a lieutenant colonel and a captain, who lost their lives in the attack.
He empathized with the bereaved families and prayed for the highest ranks for the martyrs and patience for the survivors. The chief minister also conveyed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel. Security forces’ personnel exhibited bravery in confronting the terrorists, sacrificing their lives for the nation, said Gandapur.
He hailed the sacrifices made by the security forces, emphasizing the nation’s solidarity with them in the fight against terrorism. Asserting that such cowardly acts will not deter the morale of the security forces, the chief minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring peace and security in the country. The chief minister vowed that the sacrifices of the security forces for the nation’s peace would not go in vain.
Police and other law enforcement agencies were put on alert across the province following the attack.
On March 13, Gandapur swiftly authorized the release of Rs3 billion for acquiring armoured personnel carriers (APCs), arms, ammunition, and cutting-edge equipment to bolster the police force in combating terrorism and addressing prevailing law and order challenges in the province.
He instructed police authorities to allocate a one-time special quota for recruiting the heirs of police martyrs into the force. Emphasizing the need for expedited action, he called for preparing a formal proposal for approval by the provincial cabinet. This move aims to expedite the long-awaited recruitment of the children of fallen officers.
Chairing a law and order meeting at the Chief Minister House, Gandapur was joined by Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chauhdry, Inspector General Police Akhter Hayat Khan Gandapur, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Abid Majeed, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, relevant administrative secretaries, and police officials.
The meeting participants were briefed on the current law and order situation, existing challenges, future strategies, and related issues. Discussions also encompassed the establishment of a security division within the police department to safeguard prominent individuals and installations.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2024