Multi-party confab on security today

Major political parties decline participation

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is set to host an All Parties Conference (APC) on law and order today at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar. Invitations have been sent out by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to political parties and representatives from various schools of thought.

However, three major political parties — Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Awami National Party (ANP) — have declined to attend. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) acknowledged receiving the invitation but is yet to confirm attendance, while Jamaat-e-Islami has announced it will participate.

The APC has been convened to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the province. Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the need for a joint strategy to counter terrorism, stating, "Restoring peace is a collective responsibility. The re-emergence of terrorism is alarming and must be confronted unitedly. We must rise above differences for the sake of peace."

ANP Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain said his party would have participated had the APC been called by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a political entity. "This is a government-led initiative, and decisions are already pre-determined. Therefore, ANP will not take part," he remarked.

PPP Provincial President Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha dismissed the APC as a symbolic exercise, citing what he called a "non-serious" provincial government. "They should focus on public issues instead of protests and sit-ins," he added.

JUI-F spokesperson Abdul Jalil Jan also confirmed the party will not attend the APC. Meanwhile, PML-N provincial spokesperson Ikhtiar Wali claimed the party has not yet received a formal invitation. He also noted that the prime minister has summoned a tribal Jirga today.