PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mian Iftikhar Hussain has questioned the government’s failure to improve the law and order situation despite the imposition of governor’s rule and the introduction of emergency measures in the province.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he expressed grief over the death of Malik Anar in a bomb blast in Bannu, which also injured two people, and the deaths of two people during an anti-encroachment operation in Alloch, Puran tehsil of Shangla district.
Mr Hussain questioned why terrorism continued unabated despite measures taken in the name of restoring peace and maintaining law and order. He asked why the situation had failed to improve and people continued to feel insecure if the primary objective of these measures was to protect them.
He said that while precious lives were being lost in terrorist attacks, people were also facing hardships due to anti-encroachment drives and the recovery of communal land, commonly known as shamlat.
The ANP leader stressed that people whose privately owned properties did not fall within the category of encroachments should not be subjected to unnecessary harassment. He warned that such actions would only deepen public grievances.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was already grappling with serious economic challenges, as trade and industrial activities had slowed down and businesses were struggling. People were also facing difficulties in finding employment, he added.
Questioning the direction in which the province was being pushed, Mr Hussain said people needed peace, security, employment opportunities and improved economic conditions rather than further hardships.
He said the government’s foremost responsibility was to eliminate terrorism, restore law and order and provide relief to the people through practical and effective measures.
He offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the deceased to a high place in heaven and the early recovery of those injured.
Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026
