PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday demanded of the federal government to reconsider its current Afghan policy for necessary changes and extend the deadline for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.

It also asked the federal government to empower KP to hold direct and meaningful talks with the interim Afghan government for long-term peace in the region.

The demands were made through two resolutions during a sitting chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati here.

A resolution tabled by PTI member Sharafat Ali noted that the house was seriously concerned about the law and order situation in the province.

Urges Centre to empower KP to hold peace talks with Afghanistan

It added that the federal government’s Afghan policy had failed as the security situation in the country as well as Pak-Afghan relations had worsened. “It is imperative to take solid steps for restoring peace in the region,” he said.

The resolution read that the house demanded of the federal government to “reconsider and change Afghan policy immediately.”

It recommended that the KP government be empowered by the federal government to hold “direct and meaningful talks with Afghanistan to play its positive role for long-term peace in the region.

Another resolution, tabled by Mr Ali and passed unanimously by the house, demanded extension of the deadline set for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.

It noted that Afghans had been living in Pakistan for decades, so sudden repatriation would not only create problems for them but could also render a negative impact on the current brotherly relations between the neighbouring countries.

Earlier, treasury MPA Rajab Ali Khan Abbasi said local and international tourists visited Galiyat highlighting the country’s positive image worldwide, but the residents faced immense shortage of drinking water.

He said that water bowsers were filled with spring water and thousands of gallons of water was supplied to the Marri water board on a daily basis, with the practice continuing for decades.

The lawmaker said that people in the area faced issues and were compelled to buy water and it was the legal right of the residents to receive water on priority.

Law minister Aftab Alam Afridi declared the issue serious and said a pipeline was laid down during the British rule for water supply to the Marri and cantonment areas.

He added that the provincial government had claimed Rs6 billion of the water supplied from Galiyat but the payment had yet to be made.

He said that a special committee should be formed and the calling attention notice should be sent to it for resolving the issue once and for all.

MPA Nazir Ahmad Abbasi complained that residents were not provided water. He warned that the people would never allow anyone to use water as they’re forced to purchase it.

“We don’t want locals to disconnect water supply from the pipeline,” he said, adding that water from KP had been provided to Marri for the last 129 years and that, too, for free of charge.

However, ANP member Arbab Usman noted that it was an inter-provincial issue and involved cantonment areas as well.

He said the house should issue directions as the issue couldn’t be sent to the committee as it lacked power to take up the issue with other provinces.

The chair observed that once the committee made any decision, it would be binding on the provincial government courtesy the house to pursue the issue.

Mr Usman also said that around 40,000 cases were pending with the Peshawar High Court.

“If this is the case at the high court, what will be the situation at the lower courts? A process should be started to monitor the situation,” he said, requesting the chair to form a committee on the matter.

The lawmaker said e-courts were required at merged tribal districts, while consumer and civil courts should be streamlined.

He said judges should be directed to decide cases within a specific timeframe.

The law minister informed the house that the sanctioned posts at the high court totaled 20, while 13 judges were working there. He added that 10 additional judges were appointed to the high court, taking the strength to 23.

The assembly also passed the KP Right to Information Amendment Bill, 2025. Special assistant to the chief minister for technical education Tufail Anjum tabled the KP Trade Testing Board Bill, 2025, in the house.

The chair later adjourned the sitting until 2pm on April 28.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025