KP Assembly Public Order Committee expresses displeasure over briefings by IGP and Chief Secretary
PESHAWAR:
A special committee of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly has expressed displeasure over briefings by the chief secretary, inspector general of police (IGP) and the home ministry on the law and order situation in the province.
The committee decided to summon the corps commander from Peshawar to the next meeting.
The committee, recently formed to oversee law and order and operations against terrorists in KP, held a partly closed session on Monday under the chairmanship of KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. This was the second meeting of the committee.
According to sources close to the meeting, IGP Zulfiqar Hameed, Chief Secretary Syed Shahab Ali Shah and Interior Ministry officials gave briefings. Other IGs from the Elite Force and Special Branch were present, as were Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah Khan, Maulana Lutfur Rahman and other members of the assembly.
During IGP Hameed’s briefing, members asked him a series of questions to which he responded. The committee was also informed about the modern equipment recently provided to the police by the provincial government.
Speaking to media after the meeting, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam said the special committee was formed following a unanimous resolution of the assembly and a special request from lawmakers.
Reservations were expressed on certain operations, discussed during a closed session. The meeting will resolve outstanding issues and move towards finalizing the terms of reference (TOR), he said.
When asked for details, he said the meeting was partly held behind closed doors so he could not divulge everything. He confirmed that members were not satisfied with the presentations by the IGP and the Additional Chief Secretary.
He added that as some questions could only be answered by the corps commander, so it was necessary to invite that officer for the next hearing. He hoped the opposition would join them after the meeting, stressing that the province belongs to everyone and everyone wants peace and security.
On collateral damage legislation, he said the new cabinet was only recently sworn in and would soon begin work on drafting laws guided by the terms of reference. He emphasized the government’s objective to avoid any loss of life or property in the province.
Earlier, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Shafi Jan told the media that the province was currently facing insecurity and conditions were deteriorating in the merged tribal districts.
He said the number of members of the security committee had increased from 35 to 37. He said negotiations were the only solution to restore peace, adding that an all-party conference (APC) would be convened soon, with tribal elders invited.
