K-P bolsters police arsenal to fight terror

Afridi vows capacity boost for force, decries political interference, urges inclusive national anti-terror policy

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Friday reaffirmed the provincial government's unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorism from the province, announcing substantial emergency investments to fortify the police force and counter-terrorism apparatus.

Speaking at a high-profile ceremony at Police Lines Peshawar, where bulletproof vehicles, modern sub-machine guns (SMGs), bulletproof jackets, helmets, sniper rifles, and heavy motorcycles for traffic police were formally handed over, Afridi highlighted the incumbent administration's aggressive support for law enforcement.

Since taking office, the government has allocated Rs7.7 billion to strengthen the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), approved a Rs7.2 billion package for the Special Branch, and released Rs6.5 billion to upgrade security infrastructure and police capabilities in the merged districts. Additionally, an extra Rs3.8 billion grant has been sanctioned to expand the Safe Cities project from Peshawar to all divisional headquarters and the merged tribal areas.

"CTD and Special Branch are being further reinforced through fresh recruitments and infrastructure upgrades," Afridi declared. He emphasized that these measures align with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, under which the police have been shielded from political interference to focus squarely on professional duties.

The Chief Minister paid glowing tribute to the K-P police, noting their two-decade-long frontline battle against terrorism and the immense sacrifices they have made. "For over 20 years, our police have stood firm without flinching. Regrettably, a certain mindset in federal leadership failed to recognize these sacrifices," he said, adding that the provincial government stands solidly behind its force and prioritizes fulfilling all their needs.

Afridi expressed optimism that, with divine grace, the province would soon be free of the terrorism scourge.