PESHAWAR: Speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati on Monday ordered a briefing by provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Khan on the prevailing law and order situation in the province.

Chairing a sitting of the assembly here, the speaker announced that the police chief would inform the leader of the opposition, lawmakers from terrorism-hit areas, and parliamentary leaders of all parties today (Tuesday) about security situation in the province and respond to their questions, while the Peshawar corps commander would be requested afterward for an in-camera briefing on the issue.

He said that the regrouping of terrorists in the province was a failure of intelligence agencies.

Mr Swati said that instead of “holding a presser about a political party,” the director-general of Inter-Services Public Relations should inform people about how terrorists continued to infiltrate despite border fencing.

Lawmakers question how terrorists continue to infiltrate despite border fencing

The house began a debate on the “poor” state of security in the province after member of the opposition PPP Ahmad Karim Kundi tabled an adjournment motion requesting the speaker to suspend the business and allow lawmakers to discuss the issue.

Mr Swati said military operations against terrorism were carried out in the past across the province, displacing thousands of people, but as those residents had returned to their homes, there was a talk about fresh military offensives in the same areas, fearing their displacement.

“There is a lack of trust between elected and military leadership,” he insisted.

Earlier, members of both treasury and opposition benches declared the law and order situation in the province alarming and sought a briefing from authorities about it.

Member of the opposition Awami National Party Mohammad Nisar complained that the mainstream media never covered the grievances of tribal residents.

He insisted that security forces had ordered people in Bajaur district, Tirah in Khyber district and Waziristan district to evacuate for new military operations.

The lawmaker said that 21 such offensives were carried out in the past, leading to claims about the elimination of private militias.

He claimed that authorities had decided about another military operation in the tribal region amid strong opposition from residents.

“People in merged tribal districts are not ready to leave their homes again,” he said, proposing intelligence-based operations against terrorists.

Mr Nisar questioned why unrest persisted when Afghanistan had a pro-Pakistan government. He alleged vested interests profited from instability in the country.

The MPA requested the speaker to call the provincial police chief to the house for a briefing on the security situation and said an in-camera briefing by military officers should also be held.

Member of the opposition PML-N Jalal Khan said the law and order situation in the province was alarming, so the treasury and the opposition should be on the same page on the strategy to address it.

MPA Abdul Ghani from the treasury benches said that development was worthless until the province had peace.

He also supported the call for briefing by authorities on the law and order situation and said people of the province won’t accept any decision from Islamabad.

Livestock minister Fazal Hakim questioned where terrorists were coming in and where they hid. He said if those responsible for protecting public life couldn’t deliver, they should step down.

Treasury member Shafiullah Jan insisted that the province hadn’t witnessed terrorism for almost three years nor had any terrorists resettled there.

He said the military claimed to have nothing to do with politics but the pressers held by its officers were focused on the PTI and its incarcerated leader, Imran Khan, so they would face criticism.

Mr Jan said the PTI founder was “standing like a rock against all odds.”

Also in the session, member of the opposition JUI-F Rehana Ismail insisted that the government boasted about 356 dams but actually, they’re mini hydropower projects, with 216 producing power at the moment.

Law minister Aftab Alam Afridi told the house that 316 mini micro-hydro projects had been successfully executed by the provincial government to produce over 60 megawatts of electricity.

As the JUI-F lawmaker questioned the veracity of the answer, the speaker referred the matter to the relevant house committee for discussion and recommendations.

MPA Gul Ibrahim from Dir district told the house that 27 hydropower projects had been approved for his region since 2015 but work on only two of them with 50 kilowatts capacity witnessed completion.

He also claimed that Rs700 million funds were released from the total Rs2 billion allocated for mini hydropower projects for Upper Dir but work on them couldn’t begin despite the holding of several meetings.

Member of the opposition JUI-F Adnan Khan suggested that all relevant lawmakers be made part of the committee to identify those responsible for incomplete projects so that strict action was taken.

The speaker declared that it had been established that there was something wrong in the matter, so the question was referred to the relevant committee of the house for discussion and recommendations.

He later put off the sitting until 4pm today (Tuesday).

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2024