PESHAWAR, Sept 13: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which had earlier held that the issue of militancy was the prime responsibility of the federal government, has now decided to convene an all-party conference at the provincial level.

“The provincial APC will be in continuation of the conference recently organised by the federal government,” Information Minister Shah Farman told reporters after a session of the provincial assembly here on Friday. “Peace is the only agenda of the APC,” he said, adding that the date for the conference was yet to be decided.

He said the objective of the APC was to support efforts being made by the federal government to restore durable peace.

As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had borne the brunt of militancy, he said, it was necessary for the leadership of provincial political parties to work out a unanimous line of action.

The minister said solving the problem of terrorism with joint efforts of stakeholders was a priority issue of his party (Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf) and Sept 9 APC in Islamabad had resolved to hold talks with the militants.

The provincial government, a press release issued here said, had started making arrangements for the APC.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has tasked Senior Minister Sirajul Haq of Jamaat-i-Islami, ministers Sikandar Sherpao (Qaumi Watan Party) and Shehram Tarakai (Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan) and Asad Qaisar, speaker of the KP Assembly, to hold consultations with different parties.

Religious scholars and representatives of civil society will also be invited to the APC.