PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has claimed that half of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is practically under the control of terrorists, and urged the federal government to convene a joint session of the parliament to discuss the prevailing law and order situation in the province.

ANP central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan made the demand in a statement issued here on Saturday.

He said most of the southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, had become no-go areas at night. He suggested all stakeholders should be called to the join sitting of the parliament for briefing on the ongoing unrest in KP. “The security agencies should be asked to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation in the province.”

He said KP police needed to be encouraged to take a leading role in the fight against terrorism. He said the reason for an uptick in terrorism in KP, especially in the last few years, should be made public.

Aimal says police should take leading role in anti-terror fight

“The government has failed to fulfill its primary responsibility of providing security of life and property to the people.”

He said it seemed the provincial government was busy trying to get the incarcerated leader Imran Khan out of jail, and the federal government was busy trying to keep him imprisoned.

Aimal Wali said while the federal and provincial governments wrangled over trivial issues, the blood of Pakhtuns was being shed needlessly. “People should be informed about what is the action plan of the government to deal with terrorists,” he said.

The senator said ANP had always stood against terrorism and would continue to do so. “We will take all possible measures for the rights of our province and the safety of people,” he added.

Meanwhile, ANP central secretary information Eng Ehsanullah Khan, in a separate statement on Saturday, alleged the provincial government was ‘engaged in dramas’ to divert the people’s attention from the real problems.

“The problem of KP is not Imran Khan’s release, but terrorism, unemployment and corruption,” he said.

Mr Khan said the government was selling the lands of universities to overcome financial crisis. “Now the government schools are being privatised after hospitals. Most of private schools in KP are owned by PTI members,” he alleged.

He said the provincial government had failed to raise the issues regarding payment of hydel and gas dues, province’s share in NFC Award and problems of the merged districts.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024