K-P assembly address: Bilour’s death should not be in vain, says CM Hoti

Chief minister says martyrs should be remembered for decisive action and not only for condolences.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister (CM) Amir Haider Khan Hoti said the civilian and military leadership faces a decisive moment with respect to an army operation. The CM seemed to be hinting to the demand for a military offensive in North Waziristan.

In the final session of the provincial assembly on Monday, he said that any delays in choosing what to do would be criminal negligence and that future generations “would not forgive us for this mistake”. He further said that it was crucial to decide whether to initiate dialogue with militants.

Winding up the assembly session that was a condolence reference for slain minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, he pointed out the dangers ahead and the need for unity. “It is not just the Awami National Party (ANP) that should have to deal with this problem, this is an issue for the entire country,” he said.



Hoti added that the theory that Pakistani would return to peace following US departure was flawed, as militants openly claim that they do not accept parliament, Constitution or democracy in Pakistan. “They deny humanity and our Pakistan as it is now.”

“If militant groups are working together, then why can’t politicians join hands to save Pakistan, Islam and democracy?” he said, adding that it was impossible to fight militancy without unity.

Hoti also said that right-wing parties have ‘closed their eyes to realities that are happening in front of them’. “Do we only pay tribute to fallen comrades?” he questioned. “It will be unjust to the sacrifice of the martyrs if they are only remembered for condolences.”

Lawmakers’ tribute

Lawmakers in the assembly urged political forces to join hands and shun differences in the war on terror.



Speaker Kiramtullah Chagarmati announced that the session will be held as a condolence session for Bilour, who was the parliamentary leader in the house.

Bilour’s picture encircled with candles was placed on his table, while flowers and his ANP cap were placed on his seat.

Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain in his impassioned speech said that anyone should not be in any kind of illusion that ANP is the only target. “They will come after other parties, once they are done with the ANP,” he said.

He said that they still talk of dialogue, peace and tolerance adding that Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US should sit together. If these countries separately engage in dialogue it will not yield a positive result, he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Provincial President Anwar Saifullah Khan said Bilour’s killing is a setback for his party and politics of the province.

“The fire in K-P will not remain confined to this region, it will spread to the whole country,” Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) provincial chief Sikandar Khan Sherpao.

Provincial Minister for Environment and Forests, Wajid Ali Khan said that this war belongs to all democratic and liberal Pakistanis, but it has been wrongly imposed on the ANP. He also called for a social and political boycott of people who have “soft corners” for terrorists. The session was adjourned till January 4.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2012.