K-P agrees to chart new course for peace

Government, opposition call APC for peace roadmap

PESHAWAR:

In a rare display of political unity amid a surge in terror attacks, parliamentary parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have agreed to seek a detailed briefing from security agencies and convene an All Parties Conference (APC) to develop a unified political strategy for lasting peace in the province.

The decision came during the first consultative meeting of the provincial assembly's Special Security Committee held at the K-P Assembly Secretariat, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

Participants deliberated on the province's overall security situation, the impact of ongoing military operations and the urgent need for a political roadmap to ensure sustainable peace.

Swati said that the series of military operations carried out since 2007 had failed to deliver lasting results and had instead caused immense human and economic losses for the people of K-P.

"We must make our people's lives secure, because the way the civilian population has suffered, it is now time to find a political alternative to these never-ending military actions through collective wisdom," he said.

He added that peace in the province was the top priority and required all political forces to come together on one page.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) K-P President Junaid Akbar Khan welcomed the unity, saying it was encouraging that all parties had gathered at one table to deliberate on the province's future.

"We must rise above political differences and make collective decisions for the security, stability, and future of our province. The people of K-P have sacrificed greatly, and it is our shared responsibility to give them relief in the form of lasting peace," he said.

"Our party and the provincial government will play a constructive role on any forum where peace and public security are discussed."

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stressed that it was time to move beyond political divides and find a path to peace through collective wisdom.

"Our government will fully cooperate with the security committee and all parliamentary parties," he said. "Restoring law and order is a shared goal, and we will evolve a clear, coordinated, and actionable plan to ensure a peaceful future for our people."

Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah lamented that the people of K-P were living under a constant state of fear and insecurity. "All stakeholders must be taken into confidence to build a national-level consensus and offer a meaningful political alternative for peace."

Similarly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Ahmad Karim Kundi said the people of K-P had borne the greatest brunt of terrorism and now deserved protection through political action. "We must learn from the mistakes of the past and take political steps that guarantee the safety of life and property," he said.

"Instead of relying on military operations, we must pursue reconciliation and dialogue so that the coming generations can inherit a peaceful future," he added.

The meeting agreed that in the first phase, the committee would receive a detailed security briefing from relevant agencies. This would be followed by an APC to finalise the terms of reference for a joint peace framework.