PESHAWAR: The Khy­ber Pakhtunkhwa government has finally broken its silence on the Kharqamar check post incident in North Wazir­istan tribal district and vowed that lawbreakers would be dealt with an iron hand.

“Whoever takes the law into their own hands, the gov­ernment will take act­ion,” said provincial Inform­a­tion Minister Shaukat Ali Yousafzai at a press conference here on Wednesday. He blamed MNAs Ali Wazir and Mohsin Javed Dawar for the armed attack on the checkpoint which claimed lives of five “innocent people”.

“These two parliamentarians are responsible for the bloody incident and they are trying to use innocent people as gunpowder,” the minister alleged.

Minister blames MNAs Ali Wazir, Mohsin Dawar for attack on Kharqamar check post

He said that Waziristan was part of Pakistan and the army troops would remain there till restoration of complete peace.

He said that the government would never withdraw troops from the region on the demand of a few individuals, adding that only the parliament could make a decision about withdrawal of army troops from tribal districts.

Mr Yousafzai said that acceptance of the demand for withdrawal of the army from tribal districts would lead to re-grouping of banned terrorist outfits.

Giving details of the Kharqamar check post incident, he said that an operation was under way in an area close to the Afghan border where soldiers had recently come under attack. “Security forces launched the operation on May 25 and arrested two facilitators of terrorists. However, local people protested against the operation and one of the arrested persons was released after negotiations with the local elders.”

The minister said that MNAs Wazir and Dawar planned to organise a sit-in in the area when the issue was resolved.

He said that the area where the operation was being conducted against terrorists was sensitive and security forces had delayed action due to tough weather conditions.

However, Mr Yousafzai was unaware about the details of the operation and did not even know the name of the area where the operation was being conducted.

Replying to a question, he said that sensitive information could not be shared with the media at this stage.

The minister said that the government had credible reports and evidence about the funding sources of the two MNAs and alleged that the parliamentarians were exploiting Pakhtun people for achieving their agenda.

Asked about any government action to put the Pash­tun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) on the list of proscribed organisations on the basis of available evidence, he said that the government had no intention to ban the PTM and restrict its political activities.

He said that a few elements were trying to instigate people against the state and some state institutions.

He alleged that MNAs Dawar and Wazir were armed and led the mob towards the check post to proceed to the area to get the arrested person released.

To a question, he said that MNA Wazir had been arr­ested for inciting the mob.

About the arrest of a journalist, Mr Yousafzai said that Gohar Wazir, who was apprehended by police in Bannu along with PTM leaders and workers, was released on Wednesday after verification.

He said that the government would pay compensation to the heirs of the people who were killed in the Kharqamar incident.

The minister also visited the Combined Military Hos­pital, Peshawar, and inq­uired after the health of people wounded in the attack.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2019