Govt keeps constitutional action on the cards to protect KP from terror

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Interior minister, KP governor meet to discuss growing unrest in province

The Governor House in Peshawar has resolved to play its constitutional role to protect Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from terrorism and devastation if the situation warrants the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency.

The decision was taken during an important meeting between Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor House in Peshawar. On this occasion, the chief secretary and inspector general of police were also present.

The meeting discussed growing unrest in the province, the political situation and developments arising from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

The participants expressed concern that terrorists could be facilitated in safely crossing security check posts during the long march.

The two sides said the provincial government’s approach and role during talks on action against terrorism were tantamount to hostility towards the people and the province. They said that after agreement on resolving the issues, the provincial government had again shown obstinacy and irresponsibility and repeated its policy of taking a U-turn.

The meeting has termed the use of a helicopter and other government resources by the KP chief minister and provincial ministers during the long march as an open violation of Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) judgments.

The participants agreed that if the president or prime minister considers governor’s rule or an emergency necessary to protect the province from terrorism and destruction, the Governor House will play its full constitutional role.

Earlier today, Naqvi blamed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for the failure of negotiations between the government and PTI, accusing him of changing an agreement reached by the negotiating teams.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said that the government and opposition negotiators had agreed on 99 per cent of the proposed draft, but alleged that the document was altered after it was taken to the KP chief minister.

The talks had focused mainly on counter-terrorism cooperation between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments. However, the negotiations ended without a breakthrough.

Naqvi thanked opposition negotiators Barrister Gohar Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Amir Dogar for their ‘sincere efforts’.

He said the negotiating committee had been given the authority to take decisions and had finalised a draft agreement.

“An excellent agreement had been prepared,” Naqvi said. He added that he had taken the final draft to President Asif Ali Zardari and briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by telephone.

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