PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has expressed ignorance about the timing of the military operation in North Waziristan Agency, saying that provincial governor and Peshawar corps commander were also not aware about it.

Speaking on a point of order in the provincial assembly on Thursday, he said that federal government did not inform the provincial government about launching fresh military operation in the tribal area, although homework had been completed for the expected exodus of the population from North Waziristan Agency in the wake of a military offensive.

“None of us was aware of the operation, even the corps commander, too, did not know about it,” Mr Khattak said. He assured the House that the provincial government would provide all facilities to IDPs although it was responsibility of the federal government to look after new IDPs.

The chief minister said that his government had released Rs350 million for assistance of IDPs and was ready for extending all out support to the displaced people.

Says even governor and Peshawar corps commander were not aware of the timing of military action

Awami National Party parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak while speaking on the point of order expressed concern over targeted killings of political workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan should keep his own house in order instead of demanding resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif over Model Town incident.

Mr Babak said that political workers and innocent people were frequently killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but Imran Khan never visited the affected families to express sympathies with them.

The ANP leader said that security forces should make Operation Zerb-i-Azeb more effective and targeted to wipe out militancy from Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman condemned killing of the son of Senator Salih Shah in South Waziristan Agency and demanded arrest of the killers.

Quami Watan Party parliamentary leader Sikandar Khan Sherpao said that funds released by the provincial government for IDPs were insufficient. He demanded increase in the amount for relief operation. He said that peace talks between government and Taliban had already failed so it was a lame excuse that centre did not inform provincial government about the operation.

Meanwhile, Speaker Asad Qaisar has sent a text message to all lawmakers and asked them to restrict their movement owing to the prevailing security situation in the province. “All members should be careful and arrange security,” said the message.

BUDGET: The lawmakers continued discussion on budget amid criticism and reservations by the opposition benches.

Starting debate on the budget, MPA Nighat Orakzai said that total allocation for social welfare, special education and women development was Rs1.51 billion, which was a peanut. She said that principle of equality was ignored in the budget.

The MPA said that majority of the women gave vote to PTI in the last general elections despite that women were not given priority.

MPA Mufti Said Janan said that southern districts were bypassed in the budget as Rs2105 million were allocated for those while other districts would get Rs5,158 million.

He said that southern districts particularly Karak and Hangu were generating huge revenue for the province despite that those districts were neglected.

Mr Janan said that he would distribute copies of Annual Development Programme in mosques in Hangu and ulema would tell people about economic injustice of the government.

MPAs Miraj Humayun and Salim Khan also criticised the budget.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014