K-P allows Centre to legislate on explosives

Assembly also protests failure to produce detained MPAs

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution, granting the federal government the authority to legislate on issues related to explosives.

This resolution allows Parliament to regulate matters concerning explosive materials across the country. During a recent assembly session, government member Taj Muhammad Tarand raised a point of order requesting the suspension of the day's agenda to present the resolution.

Provincial Minister Qasim Ali Shah then presented the resolution, stating that in compliance with Article 144 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has decided that the National Assembly should legislate on the regulation of explosives.

MPAs agreed that the National Assembly could protect actions taken under the relevant laws of Khyber=Pakhtunkhwa. Later, K-P Law Minister Aftab Alam informed the media that the federal government had requested this authority, noting that explosives are a sensitive issue requiring national-level regulation.

The provincial assembly has thus approved the resolution, with assurance that district-level permits related to mining will continue to be safeguarded.

He added that one or two provinces either restricted or had no restrictions on this matter. Therefore, the federal government sought permission to create a uniform national law. Sindh had already granted this authority.

Article 144 allows federal and provincial authorities to discuss such issues. He noted that the purpose is to ensure consistent legislation on security-related matters.

Protest over non-release of MPAs

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly erupted in protest over the non-release of two of its members despite the issuance of production orders. Assembly members condemned the arrests of political workers and assembly members participating in protests, demanding a judicial inquiry into an attack on a vehicle transporting detainees.

The session, chaired by Panel of Chairmen Mian Sharafat Ali, began with government member Taj Muhammad Tarand raising a point of order, requesting the day's agenda be suspended.

Later, MPA Ajmal Khan described recent events as a conspiracy against assembly members Anwar Zeb and Liaqat Khan and 82 other workers, who had no murder charges or terrorism allegations against them.

He demanded that the FIRs be dismissed and the detained workers be released, stressing that family members and PTI workers had come to meet and arrange bail for them. MPA Shafiullah criticised the Punjab Chief Minister and government, describing recent actions as an unprecedented example of brutality, repression, and police high-handedness.

He said that, upon entering Attock, the procession led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur encountered roads deliberately obstructed, with rubber bullets fired and toxic gas used from drones and helicopters.

On October 5, as the march reached D-Chowk, further brutality ensued with shelling, resulting in the death of workers. He claimed that the scenes on October 4 and 5 in Islamabad mirrored those of Palestine and Kashmir, with the police storming K-P House, and damaging government vehicles.

The MPA highlighted that detained members were taken to Attock Jail in shackles, even after their release was ordered, and accused the police of staging the Sanjiani incident, where they allegedly damaged their own vehicles. He called for a judicial inquiry to release the arrested workers.