'Allocation of fund can help combat terror'

K-P's Saif hopes Zardari will give a favorable reply to CM's NFC letter

PESHAWAR:

Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has expressed hope that President Asif Ali Zardari will give a positive response to a letter sent to him by K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur.

In the letter, Gandapur urged Zardari to immediately convene a meeting of the 10th NFC, citing constitutional and financial concerns linked to the merger of the former Fata into K-P.

Talking with reference to the letter, Barrister Saif said the federal government should urgently convene an NFC meeting, if it is really serious about establishing peace in the merged districts. He said development in tribal districts can contribute to peace and stability across the country.

"While the federal government blames the K-P government for terrorism, it continues to withhold necessary funds. The unconstitutional withholding of funds is fueling terrorism in the merged districts," he claimed

Saif said that since the merged districts are now part of the K-P, the province should receive the allocated funds. "The K-P is better equipped than the federal government to utilize these funds effectively. Accelerating development in the merged districts can help curb terrorism," he added.

He said despite limited resources, the K-P government is actively combating terrorism.

If the merged districts receive their rightful share, he said, their long-standing deprivations can be addressed. "Instead of making statements against the PTI led K-P government, the federal government should take concrete steps to eliminate terrorism," he added.