K-P law and order ‘notably’ improved

CM draws blank on any military operation plan

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has said that the law and order situation in the province has considerably improved under his watch.

“We have strengthened institutions such as Counter Terrorism Department and other law enforcement agencies. The provincial government has presented a tax-free budget, under which public welfare and development projects will be undertaken,” he said, adding that the government will provide interest-free loans to 100,000 youths for employment and focus on increasing revenue.

“We do not have any issues…all issues stem from the federal government. If our demands are not met and our rights not given, we will react within the framework of the Constitution and law,” he said. “We know how to get our rights,” he remarked.

The chief minister expressed these views while talking to the media outside the Adiala Jail on Monday.

The CM said that K-P is a power-producing province, but it is not getting its due share. The federal government owes Rs1,510 billion to the province under the net hydel profit, but they are not paying it.

We have talked to the federal authorities about ending the unjust load shedding of electricity in the province and recovering the losses, and we have recovered Rs1 billion in a month.

However, if the federal government does not fulfill its commitment, then problems will arise. In K-P, PESCO’s system is responsible for the line losses.

In response to a question, Gandapur said that no plan has been presented yet regarding the Azme Istehkam initiative, and if such a plan is drawn up, it is essential to take into confidence the provinces, parliament, people, and all stakeholders.

The chief minister said that our people have suffered a lot, both financially and economically, and they have not received the rights and relief they deserved.

Even today, the people who were displaced have not been rehabilitated. He clarified that so far, there is no plan regarding the operation, but when a plan is presented, then we can discuss it.

The CM said that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has traveled the whole world, but did not go to Afghanistan, because he does not care about the people of our province, or peace and security, or the lives and property of the Pakistani people, or the police and other security agencies.

He said that whatever has happened so far, Pakistan has been the sole sufferer. Self-accountability is required to fix responsibility for what has transpired in the country.

Gandapur clarified that we want complete peace in Pakistan and are willing to go to any extent for this purpose, but if something happens, we will sit and talk in a civilized manner when a clear plan comes forth.

In response to a question about negotiations with the establishment, he said that Imran Khan has repeatedly said that he is ready to talk for the sake of Pakistan, but so far, no one has talked to anyone in this regard.

If someone wants to talk, we are ready, but our conditions are the same. First, we will talk about the mandate that was stolen from us.

In response to another question, the Chief Minister said that just as our mandate was stolen, we will not forget it. Yes, we are ready to talk for the sake of the country, but our first condition is that we will talk about the mandate that was stolen from us.