ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Wednesday severely criticised the persistent absence of Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak from his province and what he described as his callous attitude in dealing with the law and order situation in the province.
Responding to a point of order raised by Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Zahid Khan, he said in a lighter tone that an advertisement may be placed in the national dailies for locating the missing chief minister.
The interior minister said that issues including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), security situation and governance among others were awaiting CM Khattak's attention, but he was busy bringing ‘revolution’ in the country.
He assured the House that a detailed report about the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be presented before the Parliament within a day or two.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order Senator Zahid Khan urged the interior minister to seek a report from IG of Police regarding law and order situation due to CM Khattak’s absence in KP.
Chief Minister Khattak, earlier this week admitted to have been using official resources for participating in his party’s month-long sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
“I am Pervez Khattak only in my home. Outside it, I am chief minister. Wherever I go, I am chief minister. I am authorised to use three official vehicles with fuel,” he said when asked if he was attending the sit-in as the chief minister or in his personal capacity.
Besides, he said, it was not only the chief minister who ran the provincial government. “There is a chief secretary and there are ministers.”
Saad seeks explanation over prolonged ‘expensive sit-in’
Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said, “PTI Chairman Imran Khan should tell the nation where millions of rupees were coming from to entertain people attending the sit-in for the last many days.”
He said that from day one, the PTI chairman was misleading the nation and giving wrong facts and figures regarding election results and the economy.
The minister said those who were blaming the judiciary are now seeking help of the Supreme Court. Three presidents have postponed their visits to Pakistan due to PTI and PAT sit-ins, he said, adding that the sit-ins have caused a huge loss to the national exchequer.
To a question, Saad Rafique said the PTI leadership had given resignation from the National Assembly as they were well aware of the fact that their resignation would not be accepted. He questioned why they had not tendered their resignation from the KP assembly.
He condemned the language being used against Prime Minister Sharif and former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
‘Imran should focus on KP govt’
Speaking during the joint session, Senator Ilyas Bilour of ANP said that Imran Khan should focus on the performance of his party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said that corruption was increasing in the province and Khan was not well aware about the ground realities.
Senator Saeed Ghani, speaking during the session, strongly condemned the attack on Pakistan Television (PTV) and Geo TV, terming them as attacks on freedom of the press. He said that the sit-ins were affecting businesses and the education of citizens.
