Saif hopes positive response from president on CM’s letter

PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Saturday expressed the hope that President Asif Ali Zardari would respond positively to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s letter.

He said that if the federal government was truly serious about addressing the law and order situation, it should convene the NFC meeting at the earliest. He stated that restoring peace and security requires concrete actions.

In his statement, Barrister Dr Saif said that terrorism cannot be eradicated through the malicious press conferences of certain ministers. He stressed that the development of tribal districts would contribute significantly to peace and stability across the country.

“On one hand, the federal government holds Khyber Pakhtunkhwa responsible for terrorism, while on the other, it withholds essential funds,” he added. He condemned the unconstitutional withholding of funds by the federal government, asserting that it is leading to a rise in terrorism in the merged districts. He emphasized that since these districts are now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province should receive its rightful share of funds.

Barrister Dr Saif highlighted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is better equipped than the federal government to utilise these funds effectively for the development of the merged districts. Accelerating development in these areas, he argued, would help curb terrorism.

Despite limited resources, he said, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government continued combat terrorism. “If the merged districts receive their rightful share of resources, their long-standing deprivations can be addressed,” he added.

Instead of engaging in rhetoric against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he urged the federal government to take concrete measures to eliminate terrorism.