PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday denied that a military operation is being carried out in Bannu district, despite a lawmaker of the ruling PTI claiming that an offensive is under way in the area, with a curfew imposed and cellular network suspended for the last four days.

During a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Suriyya Bibi here, law minister Aftab Alam Afridi said that the cellular network might have been suspended in a specific area for an intelligence-based operation against militants and not in the entire southern district.

However, treasury MPA Pakhtoon Yar Khan insisted that the minister was misguided as the home department officials didn’t share facts with him. He said that the deputy commissioner had imposed a curfew in the area and shared that decision on social media.

Earlier, Mr Khan informed the house that a military operation had been underway in Bannu district for the last four days, causing “immense problems” for residents. He urged the provincial government to clarify its position on the matter.

Minister says cellular network might have been suspended in specific area for IBO against militants

“The provincial government must share details if it has been taken into confidence about the operation against militants in Bannu,” he said.

The lawmaker said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had always opposed military operations in the province.

He asked the provincial government whether it was taken into confidence by authorities about the military operation and whether the offensive would remove militants from the area.

“If the provincial government is onboard, this is completely against the policy of PTI founder Imran Khan,” he said.

Special assistant to the chief minister on technical education Usman Khan complained that there was no cellular network in his constituency though he repeatedly raised the issue on the floor of the house.

He said that during a meeting, held in line with the chair’s directions, he shared details of the non-functional cellular towers, but no action was taken.

MPA Anwar Zeb Khan also said that the people in his Bajaur constituency faced immense communication issues, while residents living abroad couldn’t contact family members back home.

Also, the lawmakers flayed the federal government’s decision to impose taxes in the merged tribal districts (erstwhile Fata) and Malakand Division.

Housing minister Dr Amjad Ali said that when Imran Khan was the prime minister, he called the then finance minister, Asad Umar, and finance secretary, and got an SRO issued regarding the exemption of the region from taxes for five years.

He said that though there existed no written agreement on the matter, the government had committed that Malakand Division won’t be taxed for 100 years.

The minister said that the people in tribal districts and Malakand Division had long been facing difficult times. He said that the traders and civil society had given a strike call on the tax issue, so if it wasn’t aptly addressed, the situation would worsen.

Member of the opposition Awami National Party Arbab Usman questioned why only KP had to render sacrifices.

He said that his party recently held a multi-party conference on the issue and would never allow taxes in the erstwhile Fata and Malakand and would rather offer resistance.

Mr Usman also sought details of the $2 billion reportedly paid to a US lobbying firm for recommendations on investment, arms and military support.

Another member of the party, Mohammad Nisar, said that until the federal government gave away the share of merged tribal districts in the National Finance Commission Award and net hydel profit payments, a course of action should be devised regarding the imposition of taxes in the erstwhile Fata and Malakand.

He said that the powers-that-be in Pakistan were mediating between the warring United States and Iran but couldn’t ensure peace in KP and Balochistan.

“We want Lahore-like peace in our merged districts,” he said.

The lawmaker complained that anyone who raised voice for peace in the region was placed on the Exit Control List and booked in criminal cases.

MPA Anwar Zeb Khan said that he, along with like-minded people, had protested against his own government over the imposition of provincial taxes in tribal districts and even threatened to march on Islamabad if the federal taxes were not withdrawn.

In a calling attention notice, Mr Usman claimed that the teachers posted in Peshawar by the elementary and secondary education department were being transferred to other districts, while educators from other districts wanted postings to the provincial capital. He said that the issue should be immediately resolved as it had an adverse effect on academic standards.

The member said that the transfer orders should be uploaded on the department’s website. He requested the chair to refer his calling attention notice to the relevant house committee for discussion and recommendations.

Minister Afridi replied that all transfers and postings were made through the e-transfer process.

Member of the opposition JUI-F Aiman Jalil questioned why loan defaulters had been granted loans.

She said that the Bank of Khyber claimed to have accepted loan applications due to “national or international crises”.

Mr Usman said that a committee meeting on the matter was scheduled for Thursday.

He called for scrutiny of the bank’s loan structure, insisting that there is a Rs12-Rs15 billion variance.

MPA Ayub said that the KP government had established the Bank of Khyber to facilitate industries in the province but there was no data of the bank’s investment in other provinces.

He alleged that bank loans had been distributed in exchange for commission.

The lawmaker wondered who was being financed from the money owned by the people of KP and said that the BoK had completely gone “off track”.

He sought the law minister’s nod to refer the question to the relevant house committee for discussion and recommendations.

The house also passed the KP Kalash Marriage Bill, 2026.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2026