K-P rejects operations, Taliban distinction
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has strongly opposed any military operation within the province, categorically rejecting the distinction between "good" and "bad" Taliban and denouncing the use of "drone strikes' on its territory.
The provincial government's announcement came as K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur addressed a media briefing after hosting an in-camera All Parties Conference (APC) at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar.
The conference was attended by members of the provincial cabinet, MPAs, and representatives of various political parties, including JI, JUI-S, PTI, QWP, and PTI-Parliamentarians, as well as former K-P governors Shaukatullah and Shah Farman.
The participants of the meeting were briefed on the current law and order situation in K-P and the efforts of the provincial government to curb terrorism in the province.
The chief minister noted that the federal authorities and their security forces must protect the borders, while the provincial police are fully capable of combating terrorism within K-P.
"We have been repeatedly saying that there is no room for good or bad Taliban in the province. Individuals carrying weapons under the name of any institution will not be allowed to remain in the province," he asserted.
"Those supporting good Taliban must immediately expel them from the province. They are the reason the gap between the government, the public and state institutions is widening," he added.
The APC issued a joint action plan outlining several key points, including an expression of solidarity with the families of terrorism victims.
The conference called for intelligence-based operations (IBOs) to eliminate khawarij and restore long-term peace in the province.
All political parties, tribal elders, public, K-P government, administration, and law enforcement agencies reaffirm their commitment to taking decisive and indiscriminate action for lasting peace and the elimination of terrorism, the joint-action plan read.
Briefing the media on the current law and order situation, the chief minister announced that jirgas are being held in every tribal district and that a grand jirga will be convened in 15 days.
"Operations are not a solution to any problem and have yielded no significant results. (Both the) security forces and civilians have suffered losses as a result of the operations. We are sending a clear message that we will not allow any kind of operation in our province, nor is any such action acceptable to us," Gandapur said.
"Drone strikes [are also] unacceptable as even terrorists have begun using drones, putting ordinary citizens at risk."
The chief minister stated that the provincial government would recruit 300 police officers in each tribal district through local tribes to strengthen law enforcement capacity.
The chief minister also took aim at the federal government, stating that promises made under the NFC Award have not been fulfilled. "Our provincial assets belong to the province and cannot be handed over to any other authority."
He rejected any "federal overreach" through proposed legislation like the Mines and Minerals Bill.
Gandapur condemned the imposition of taxes in former FATA and PATA, which he said violates repeated provincial demands. "We do not accept these taxes and will not cooperate with the federal government on their implementation," he stated.
He further opposed turning the Frontier Constabulary (FC) into a federal force and announced that the province will challenge the move in court, noting that K-P was not consulted on the decision.
Taking a swipe at federal officials, the chief minister said: "(DPM/FM) Ishaq Dar lacks the competence to effectively advocate for this province. (Interior Minister) Mohsin Naqvi only understands cricket and flyovers. He has no knowledge of K-P's ground realities."
Gandapur also criticized political parties that boycotted the APC, saying they lack the courage to face the conference's decisions and are indirectly encouraging chaos and terrorism. However, he maintained that the K-P government remains open to dialogue. "Our doors are still open for them. If they wish to reconvene or renegotiate for the sake of the province, we are ready."
On Afghanistan, Gandapur said the global community has accepted the Afghan government, and constructive engagement is now needed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Karachi's Malir gets new football stadium
Listen to article Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani on Sunday reiterated that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is not limited to rural constituencies but represents all major cities of Sindh. He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Malir Union Football Stadium. He said development schemes worth billions of rupees were being executed across Karachi and the province, and expressed hope they would be completed within the current financial year. Ghani also inaugurated two other projects, including a community centre built by TMC Malir. He said these facilities had been established for the convenience of residents and would run efficiently. Several similar schemes across Karachi districts were also expected to be completed soon, he added. Members of the Sindh Assembly Raja Razzaq and Saleem Baloch, Malir Town Chairman Jan Mohammad Baloch, Ibrahim Hyderi Town Chairman Nazir Bhutto, Imdad Jokhio, and other elected representatives, local PPP leaders and residents attended the ceremony. Highlighting PPP's historical presence in Malir, Ghani said the area had produced prominent party leaders and that PPP had always defended local interests. The party had won the highest number of seats in District Malir during elections, he noted. He called Shahrah-e-Bhutto one of the city's best development schemes, benefiting four districts simultaneously, with its final phase up to Kathore due for completion by December. Referring to the K-IV project, he said it was delayed due to flaws in the initial design, which lacked key pumping and power stations. He added that work was disrupted during Imran Khan's tenure over allegations of corruption based on cost escalation. Now, with the PML-N in power, work had resumed under WAPDA, with Rs 70 billion allocated for Karachi's internal water supply. He hoped the project would be completed on time. Ghani also announced that water supply from the Hub Canal would resume on 14 August and that Sindh had requested an increased quota from Hub Dam. Dismissing criticism that PPP only worked in its strongholds, he said the party had spent billions on infrastructure even in areas where it had not won a single councillor's seat. He called PPP the largest urban political force in Sindh, noting that it had won local government elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, and Larkana, with all Sindh mayors now from PPP. He said ongoing water and sewerage projects were progressing swiftly and would be completed in the coming months. On Independence Day preparations, Ghani said the nation was celebrating it as a 'Day of Victory'. He praised the armed forces and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for diplomatic efforts that countered Indian misinformation. He urged citizens to actively take part in Independence Day programmes. Replying to questions, he said work on the Quaidabad bridge would soon be completed, easing commuter movement. He reaffirmed PPP's commitment to Sindh's development and lauded both military achievements and Bilawal's diplomatic gains.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Centre revives Rs20b uplift projects in Karachi, Hyderabad
The federal government has decided to restart stalled development projects in Karachi and Hyderabad using federal funds, with a firm commitment to transparency and merit-based tendering. The move aims to eliminate interference from corrupt networks and parallel administrative systems that have historically undermined infrastructure development. The Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) has announced the revival of 193 development schemes, previously cancelled due to irregularities and lack of competition. These projects, worth billions of rupees, were originally approved for constituencies represented by MNAs of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). PIDCL has finalised two major funding packages - Rs15 billion for Karachi and Rs five billion for Hyderabad — under which infrastructure development will be carried out in line with strict merit-based procedures. According to the new guidelines, tenders will be awarded without the customary commission cuts, kickbacks, or political interference. "Contracts will no longer be sold, and all payments will be made transparently. Projects will be completed on time and according to the approved standards," said PIDCL General Manager Shafi Chachar. He added that contractors who quote rates more than 10% below the lowest bidder may be required to complete the work at their own expense to prevent manipulation through unsustainable bidding. All awarded contracts must be backed by valid bank guarantees, and no project will proceed without meeting these financial safeguards. To further strengthen transparency, PIDCL will implement an e-procurement system, which is expected to reduce favouritism and ensure that tenders are awarded purely on merit. Independent consultants will be appointed to monitor project execution and adherence to quality standards. Out of 410 development schemes initially proposed by MQM-P MNAs, 193 were previously cancelled due to the presence of single bidders or unhealthy competition. PIDCL plans to reissue tenders for these schemes in the coming days. In response to concerns over billing fraud, Chachar said PIDCL will coordinate with relevant departments at the initiation and completion stages of each project. Signboards displaying project details will also be installed at construction sites to ensure public visibility and accountability. "The federal government has released the required funds, and development work has already begun under the supervision of PIDCL. Citizens of Karachi and Hyderabad will start seeing tangible improvements once the schemes are completed," he added. The move to conduct "system-free" development - without political brokerage or corrupt intermediaries - marks a crucial shift in the approach toward urban infrastructure in Sindh's two largest cities. PIDCL officials expressed hope that the initiative would restore public confidence in development programmes and bring long-overdue relief to residents.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Govt begins regional Jirgas for tribal peace
A tribal jirga on Saturday once again urged the federal government to arrange for a delegation comprising representatives of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and tribal elders to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan. The jirga hosted by K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also noted that military operations and displacement of local populations are not acceptable under any circumstances. According to an official statement, this was the first in a series of jirgas planned to be held under the auspices of the K-P government at addressing peace and security issues. Tribal elders and elected representatives from Khyber and Orakzai districts, as well as from the tribal sub-divisions of Darra Adam Khel and Hassan Khel, participated in the gathering. The jirga was attended by 150 tribal elders and leaders, six members of the provincial assembly, three members of the National Assembly, and one senator. Senior government officials including Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, and K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed were present at the event, alongside relevant commissioners, deputy commissioners, and senior officers. In a unanimous resolution, the jirga stated that there is complete unity among all stakeholders in the fight against terrorism and terrorists for the restoration of peace. However, military operations and the displacement of local populations are not acceptable. It said development is linked to peace, and once peace is restored, the pace of development must accelerate. The tribal elders recommended that the federal government arrange for a delegation to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had summoned a jirga of tribal elders in Peshawar following the killing of some protesters in Tirah last week. Five people died and 17 others sustained injuries on June 27 when protesters were fired upon during a protest outside a military installation at the Bagh Maidan area of Tirah Valley of the Khyber district against the killing of a girl. After the incident, the K-P government announced Rs10 million each in compensation for those killed and Rs2.5 million for each of the injured. The provincial government stated that it stood in solidarity with the affected families. PTI's K-P Organizational Committee, in an emergency meeting last week, strongly condemned ongoing "state violence" against peaceful citizens across the K-P, especially in the merged districts, which constituted the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) till early 2018. The committee unanimously asserted that extended military deployment under Article 245 of the Constitution has created an unchecked environment of force and ineffective accountability, violating basic rights and disrupting local peace.
