PESHAWAR: The leaders of opposition political parties have expressed serious concern over the increasing acts of terrorism and urged the government to announce a pragmatic plan to ensure protection to people.

Awami National Party central general secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that the increase in acts of terrorism in various parts of the country was a glaring proof of regrouping of anti-state elements.

Addressing ANP office-bearers and election committee members at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Monday, he said it was time to take practical steps otherwise the law and order situation would worsen and the rulers would be unable to overcome it.

The ANP leader said that frequent acts of terrorism in different provinces proved that rulers were not serious to devise an effective plan for improvement in the situation. He urged the federal government to ensure protection to the lives of people and remove the prevailing unrest among them.

ANP provincial general secretary Sardarr Hussain Babak also spoke on the occasion and asked the provincial government to ensure devolving administrative and financial powers to lowest level of local bodies to ensure initiation of development schemes in various areas.

He said that there was visible difference in words and deeds of the rulers. He said that rulers were not sincere to bring real change in life of people. He also accused the provincial ministers of violating the code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan.

Other office-bearers of ANP on the occasion hoped that the candidates of the party would succeed in the second phase of local bodies’ polls.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao in a statement here on Monday condemned the murder of a Christian priest in Peshawar and described the incident a failure of the government to protect lives of citizens.

He said that the incidents of targeted attacks instilled a sense of insecurity among the people, particularly in non-Muslims. He said that government should take practical steps to overcome the menace of terrorism.

Mr Sherap also expressed his sympathies with the family of the deceased priest.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2022