PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday passed a resolution urging the federal government to consult with it and the provincial government before launching a new military operation against terrorism.

The resolution, passed by a majority vote, cautioned that proceeding without provincial consent could hinder the offensive’s success and result in adverse consequences, for which the federal government would be responsible.

Law minister Aftab Alam Afridi tabled the resolution in the session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

The resolution said the provincial chief minister and PTI founder Imran Khan had declared that military operations were not a solution to the issue of terrorism as they never bore fruit and instead, caused loss of public life and property in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Assembly also calls for Imran’s release, resignation of ECP members

The house also passed a resolution against the alleged rigging in the Feb 8 general elections.

The resolution, which was also moved by Mr Afridi, said the rigged polls led to political instability in the country, affecting its economic and internal security.

“We [Assembly] demand immediate resignation of all Election Commission of Pakistan members, including the chief election commissioner, before July 20 otherwise we shall file reference against them with the Supreme Judicial Council,” read the resolution.

Another resolution, which was also laid by the law minister and passed by majority of the members, urged the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the parliamentary committee not to endorse the appointment of ad hoc judges to the Supreme Court.

It also called upon the retired justices to reject their nominations as ad hoc judges.

Adopting another resolution, the house voiced concern over the federal government’s “malicious intent to move against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the largest political party of the country,” warning that any such move would deepen the current political and economic crisis in the country.

It warned that the anti-PTI initiative would be “resisted with full political and legal force.”

The law minister also tabled a resolution for the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan from “illegal and arbitrary detention as declared by the Human Rights Commission and the United Nations.”

The resolution, adopted by a majority vote, urged the federal government to implement the opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that all cases under which Mr Imran and his colleagues were detained lacked requisite evidence, while their trials violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It urged the federal government to release the PTI founder immediately and accord him the enforceable right to compensation and other reparation in accordance with international law, as suggested by the UN Working Group.

The house also demanded a “full investigation” into the circumstances that led to Mr Imran’s detention as well as action against those responsible for those rights violations.

The lawmakers also spoke about violence in Bannu district.

Adnan Khan of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said Bannu residents with white flags were on the way to the Pradi Gate during a peace march when they faced gunfire, which left around 20 participants injured.

JUI-F leader Lutfur Rehman said his party wasn’t opposed to military operations but if such offensives didn’t produce “good results,” then the sought-after stability remained elusive.

The lawmakers said there shouldn’t be any compromise on law and order but they won’t allow “illegal” operations and would rather resist them.

Treasury member Sohail Afridi said it was his right to know about the outcome of the previous military operations.

He said the residents of Khyber tribal district were told that they would return to their homes with dignity after the offensive was over, but the people of Rajgal and Tirah areas were asking for “justice” even 20 years after the military operation ended in the district.

“Today, we all are united and condemn all those talking about a new military operation,” housing minister Dr Amjad.

He said peace returned to the province after the 2013 military offensive but the federal government’s approval of the Operation Azm-i-Istihkam caused a spike in violence.

The chair later urged the provincial government to form committees comprising assembly and Senate members and representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau to probe the delicate law and order situation in the southern and central districts of the province and submit a report in 15 days.

The session was later adjourned for Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2024