APC terms law & order situation in KP alarming

PESHAWAR/ ISLAMABAD: An All-Parties Conference convened by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor House on Thursday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in various parts of the province, particularly in Kurram and other southern districts, and urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Mainly the provincial leadership of different political parties attended the APC that later announced a 14-point declaration.

Those who attended the moot included the chairman of the Qaumi Watan Party Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, provincial chief of Awami National Party Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz KP chapter president Amir Muqam, Jamaat-e-Islami provincial head Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Inayatullah, Maulana Attaur Rehman, his brother Maulana Lutfur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Muhammad Ali Shah of Pakistan Peoples Party, Sikander Sherpao, Mohsin Dawar, Intikhab and others.

The governor said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was invited to the conference but he chose to stay away. “The chief minister should have called the APC but he even did not turn up here,” deplored the governor.

He read out the joint declaration containing 14 points on behalf of the participants. He said members of the KP Assembly would present the declaration in the provincial assembly while all the points would be taken up with the federal government too.

The declaration stated: “The political leadership of the province expresses concern over the alarmingly deteriorating law and order situation in the province. More than 200 precious lives have been lost in Kurram alone while federal and provincial governments seem to have failed in maintaining law and order.”

It said: “This meeting decided to establish a political committee and a technical committee with representation from all political parties to discuss the financial and political situation of the province and protect the interests of the province.”

The declaration demanded that internally displaced persons from all tribal districts should be sent back to their native areas respectfully and peaceful Pakhtuns of KP should not be harassed in other provinces and Islamabad.

The statement said: “The 7th NFC [National Finance Commission] Award has become ineffective for the last two and a half years, so the 11th NFC Award should be announced immediately. Three percent of the amount due for erstwhile Fata should be released as per the recommendations of the Sartaj Aziz Committee.”

The declaration said: “This forum unanimously reiterates the historical fact that the mines and minerals found in the province are the property of the people of the province and the asset of the coming generations and demands that the details of the leases granted across the province should be made public.” “All historical trade routes of the Pak-Afghan border should be opened immediately for all types of trade,” it said and added, “The meeting of the Council of Common Interests should be convened regularly as per the constitutional term”.

The declaration said: “The provincial government should constitute the PFC and issue the award regularly.” It also suggested a performance audit of the KP government regularly.

“The local government system should be made effective, allowed to work properly and local government representatives should be provided funds without any discrimination. The two percent Infrastructure Development Cess imposed by the provincial government is affecting Afghan trade and should be withdrawn.”

Earlier, speaking at the APC, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) Chairman Aftab Sherpao asked the federal and provincial governments to rise above politics to address the alarming state of lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the escalating unrest in the southern districts, particularly in Kurram district, warranted immediate attention.

Turning to the province’s economic concerns, Aftab Sherpao reminded the federal government of its responsibilities towards Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “KP is an integral part of the country, and it deserves its due share of resources. Uniform development across all regions is a constitutional right,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Thursday termed the All-Parties Conference (APC) at the Governor House as an assembly of politically marginalised factions. Talking to reporters, he stated that the APC was a failed attempt to gain political mileage and create an anti-PTI narrative.

Barrister Saif emphasized that organizing an APC was the prerogative of an elected government and not the governor. He questioned the legitimacy of the conference, especially when it concluded with the acknowledgment that, under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, “executive authority rests with the chief minister.”

The adviser reiterated that the real agenda behind the APC was political posturing rather than addressing substantive issues. Instead of forming committees, Saif suggested that Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFFRON Amir Maqam should directly advocate for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rightful share of federal funds. He urged them to hold Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari accountable for withholding the province’s due share in the NFC award.

Barrister Saif pointed out that the federal government had failed to provide adequate funds for the merged districts. Last year, only 93 billion rupees were allocated for counterterrorism. Additionally, he said, the provincial government contributed Rs7 billion to enhance police capabilities in the merged districts. He emphasized that the governor should refrain from acting as the provincial chief executive, a role constitutionally assigned to Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur.

Barrister Saif praised the chief minister’s proactive leadership, particularly in addressing the conflict in Kurram district. Under the chief minister’s directives, a government jirga successfully brokered a ceasefire, facilitated the return of deceased individuals’ bodies, and dismantled bunkers. Emergency medical supplies have also been delivered via helicopter, he said, adding significant steps have been taken to restore peace and stability, including the allocation of Rs1 billion for the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) last week and recruitment of 400 police personnel in the region. The CM aide said that sustainable measures were being implemented based on the 2008 Murree Agreement.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi apprised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the APC held in Peshawar on Thursday in which 16 political parties participated. The KP governor called on Bilawal Bhutto here at the Zardari House on Thursday evening. Bilawal said that this historic conference was an important initiative and assured the KP governor that he was with him on the issue of peace and the dispute over resources of KP with the federal government.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also held a meeting with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and apprised him of the law and order situation in the province.