Afridi demands policy shift to restore peace

Says closed-door strategy has squandered sacrifices; claims provincial plan can restore security

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Monday reiterated his strong reservations against the closed-door policy on counter-terrorism, declaring that the hard-won peace secured through the sacrifices of the province's people, police and army has been squandered after the regime-change operation.

Chairing a high-level meeting on law and order at Chief Minister's House, Afridi said more than 80,000 people of K-P had laid down their lives for Pakistan over two decades. Yet the relative calm that followed those sacrifices was lost when militants returned to the mountains and later resettled in settled areas. "At every stage, from the terrorists' arrival in the hills to their resettlement, we repeatedly warned the state and the federation," he said. "We held rallies, processions and protests across districts, but federal ministers dismissed our warnings as propaganda and lies."

The chief minister stressed that the provincial government is already acting beyond its capacity and resources. Billions of rupees have been spent to strengthen the police force and the Counter-Terrorism Department. "All our efforts, however, are being wasted because of an ineffective closed-door policy and a failed strategy," he said. "No measure for peace can succeed until the current policy is changed. If the policy we propose is implemented, peace can be restored within 100 days."

The meeting was attended by the provincial information minister, the special assistant to the chief minister on home and tribal affairs, the chief secretary, the inspector general of police, the additional chief secretary (home), senior CTD officers and other officials. Participants reviewed the prevailing security situation, measures already taken and the way forward. Progress on the CTD uplift programme was also examined.

Afridi specifically sought an update on the establishment of the K-P Forensic Science Laboratory, calling it an urgent necessity. He directed the police to procure essential equipment and utilise existing laboratory facilities until a fully functional facility is ready.