ISLAMABAD, Oct 13 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Tuesday, said the federal cabinet had decided to take constitutional measures under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution through mutual consultation to address the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
During a meeting with a parliamentary delegation comprising representatives of Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Zia), the prime minister said an impartial technocratic advisory council had been established to assist the governor in improving law and order, strengthening the economy and eliminating terrorism in the province, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif took the delegation into confidence regarding the situation in KP and explained the reasons behind the federal government’s decisions. He said the conduct of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the province and its failure to adopt an unequivocal stance against terrorism had posed risks to Pakistan’s growing economy.
The prime minister said the provincial government had neither clearly condemned terrorism nor taken effective action against terrorist groups. Referring to the sacrifices of security personnel, he said numerous members of the Pakistan Armed Forces, security forces and police had laid down their lives over the past several years while defending the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government had provided more than Rs800 billion to KP under the National Finance Commission (NFC) arrangements to support efforts against terrorism.
However, he said, the provincial government had failed to take effective measures to strengthen the capacity of its Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and establish Safe City projects to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.
The prime minister also criticised the PTI and the provincial government over their performance during the past 13 years, alleging that they had failed to deliver adequately in public welfare and protect the lives and property of citizens.
The parliamentary delegation expressed its support for the federal government amid the prevailing situation and appreciated the prime minister’s leadership during what it described as difficult circumstances.
The delegation also said the people of KP had remained deprived of adequate development in health, education and infrastructure during the PTI’s tenure in the province.
It expressed confidence that, with the federal government’s cooperation, development and prosperity in KP would advance in line with other parts of the country.
The delegation included BAP President and Federal Minister Khalid Magsi, former Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, senators Manzoor Kakar, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Dinesh Kumar and Samina Mumtaz Zehri; PML-Q President and Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain; and representatives of the IPP and PML-Zia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs and inter-provincial coordination, Rana Sanaullah, also attended the meeting.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
