PESHAWAR: Confronted with official figures of the state of worsening law and order situation, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday admitted increase in incidents of extortion, targeted killings and grenade attacks in the province.

Also, a senior minister speaking on a point of order in the provincial assembly acknowledged that financial irregularities were taking place in government departments, including communication and works and local government ones.

Taking floor on an adjournment motion in the house, public health engineering minister Shah Farman said: “I agree that cases of extortion, grenade attacks and firing have increased in the province.”

Parliamentary leader of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Sikandar Khan Sherpao moved the adjournment motion in the house on prevailing law and order situation in the province, which was admitted for detailed discussion.

Says anomalies common in financial affairs of many departments

Shah Farman however claimed that there was decline in suicide attacks, car bombs and explosions in current year as compared to 2013 and 2012.

He said a total of 14 suicide attacks, 218 bomb blasts and three car bomb explosions had been reported in 2014 while in 2013, 18 suicide attacks, 284 bomb blasts and six car bomb blasts had occurred across the province.

The minister claimed improvement in general law and order situation during current year despite the fact that military operations were being conducted in North Waziristan Agency and other parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

He termed escalation in crimes due to fallout of military operations in tribal area.

“People are going to mosques and political parties are holding rallies, which show improvement in general law and order situation,” he said, urging the opposition to suggest remedy for handling the situation.

He said the government was ready to frame strategy if opposition gave viable suggestions.

Sikandar, who came with facts and figures on security situation, said things were going from bad to worse in the province, while the government had yet to make a comprehensive plan to counter terrorism and routine crimes.

He said people were migrating and shifting their capital to other provinces due to higher extortion and abduction incidence.

“Police instead of taking action are encouraging people to strike deal with extortionists,” he said.

Giving data about acts of terrorism and other crimes occurred in the province between January and October 15, the QWP leader said a total of 520 acts of terrorism, 291 cases of extortion, 1102 cases of abduction, and 831 cases of car lifting had taken place during the period.

“A total of 190,454 crimes have been registered in the period,” he said.

Sikandar said 150 workers administering polio vaccines had come under attack, while 532 civilians had died in acts of terrorism in the same period, while targeted killing of Shias and Sikh was on the rise.

Criticising policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led coalition government, Sikandar said the government seemed oblivious of its responsibilities and that no serious attempt had been made to curb crimes.

“Instead of asking remedy from the opposition, the government should explain its counter terrorism policy,” he said, adding that despite being offered better incentives, police had demoralised.

The QWP leader said investigation and prosecution departments were very ineffective and criminals were taking benefit of the situation.

Earlier, opposition leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman while speaking on a point of order said police had failed to eliminate crimes.

Referring to the figures compiled by the home and tribal affairs department, he said the opposition leader said cases of extortion had increased by 900 per cent, acts of terrorism by 30 per cent, abduction by 40 per cent, robbery by 60 per cent and violence against women by 40 per cent.

He disclosed that circulation of a leading English newspaper had decreased from 3,000 to 1,700 in the province due to migration of its readers.

“This is an indicator of brain drain from the province,” he observed.

Senior minister Inayatullah Khan while replying to a question admitted that irregularities were taking place in several departments.

Seeking help from the opposition to eradicate practice of commission in contracts, he termed subletting contracts and commission “major disease.”

He said the government was helpless to stop commission in construction works and it could not be proved against the concerned officials.

Also in the house, the government tabled Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Ordinance, Wildlife And Biodiversity (Protection, Conservation and Management) Bill, Services Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, Emergency Rescue Services (Amendment) Bill and Protection of Breast-Feeding and Child Nutrition Bill, 2014.

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014