PESHAWAR: Pakhtunkhwa Jamhoori Ittehad (PJI), an alliance of some nationalist parties, has rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Action (in Aid of Civil Power) Ordinance and its extension to the entire province and warned to challenge the same in Peshawar High Court, if not withdrawn.

Speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, the PJI representatives led by its convener Sikandar Hayat Sherpao said that the extension of the law was tantamount to depriving the KP people of their constitutional rights. He said that the nationalists’ alliance would challenge the ordinance in court.

Flanked by other PJI leaders, including Shahab Khattak, Sarfaraz Khan, Shakeel Waheedullah, Tariq Ahmed and Zahir Shah Safi, Mr Sherpao said that the government started exploitation of the masses through unprecedented price hike and now it had imposed a ‘black law’ on them to suppress their voice.

He claimed that the government had illegally suspended Article 4, 9, 10 and 10-A which gave additional powers to the police.

He said that with the merger of former Fata the people had taken a sigh of relief, but the extension of Action (in Aid of Civil Power) Ordinance was like the black law of FCR for them.

The PJI leader said that if the government did not withdraw the ordinance it would be a great injustice with the KP people. He said that through extension of such laws the rulers were attempting to exercise all the powers, including that of courts. He demanded of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a suo motu notice of the promulgation of the ordinance to secure people’s rights.

Sikandar Sherpao said that the government had failed to fulfil its commitments with the people of tribal districts regarding release of Rs100 billion annually, three per cent share in NFC and provision of jobs.

He said that the 18th amendment was meant to strengthen the federating units, but the PTI government was attempting to amend the law against the will of provinces.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2019