Lawlessness & economic situation in KP: Political parties constitute body to carve out strategy for line of action

PESHAWAR: A consultative meeting of various political parties was convened at Awami National Party (ANP) central secretariat, Bacha Khan Markaz, here on Monday constituted a committee for taking line of action against deteriorating law and order and economic situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Provincial president of the ANP Mian Iftikhar Hussain presided over the day-long meeting.Provincial general secretary of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal Maulana Attaul Haq Darwesh, provincial naib amir of Jamaat-e- Islami Inayatullah Khan, chairman of Mazdoor Kisan Party Afzal Khamoosh, spokesperson for Qaumi Watan Party Tariq Ahmad, provincial president of Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party Ashraf Hoti, provincial general secretary of National Democratic Movement Nadim Askar and Awami Workers Party Kifayat Khan represented their respective parties.

ANP provincial senior vice-president Syed Aqil Shah and provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousufzai also attended the consultative meeting. Deteriorating law and order, security situation, Operation Azm-e-Istehakm, provincial rights, current political and economic situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the main issues discussed. A representative committee of these political parties was formed to carve out a joint strategy for a further line of action.

Speaking on the occasion Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the fresh wave of terrorism and militancy in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had caused panic and unrest among the general public while the provincial government had failed to establish its writ in the southern districts of the province where the militants ruled after sunset.

“The people of the province had adversely suffered from military operation and peace agreements in the past and, therefore, the parliament, political parties and all stakeholders must be taken into confidence before launching any offensive in the province,” he said and added that the Operation Azm-e-Istehkam had been announced to please the US and other Imperialist forces.

JUIF’s Maulana Attaul Haq Darwesh said the State had failed to protect the lives and properties of the citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and his party had already opposed new military operation in the province.

“Our party had rejected results of February 8 general elections and demanded fresh polls to pull the country out of the current economic and political quagmire,” he said and added that all political parties must unite for economic and political stability in the country.

Inayatullah Khan of JI said his party had already opposed new military operations the country and demanded that the public must be provided details, expenditures and audits of the previous military operations. “The police must be handed over control of all check-posts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and civilian administration must be held responsible for security and poor law and order situation in their respective areas,” he added.

The political parties representatives underlined the need for resolving the energy crisis that had led to prolonged power outages and inflated electricity bills in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.