Govt aims to clear terrorism-hit KP areas in four to six months

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is aiming to clear terrorism-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within four to six months, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the National Assembly, defending the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in the province.

Chaudhry said the government was also allocating Rs160 billion for police capacity-building, health, education, sanitation and infrastructure development, with the bulk of the funding earmarked for 12 districts most affected by terrorism.

“We are making every effort to clear these areas of terrorists within four to six months,” he said.

Government defends emergency, governor’s rule in KP

The minister said the federal government had resorted to governor’s rule and emergency measures because of what it described as inadequate cooperation from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government in counterterrorism efforts.

He argued that verbal assurances of cooperation were insufficient when, according to him, the provincial leadership had publicly opposed federal government measures aimed at eliminating terrorism.

Chaudhry rejected allegations that the federal government was politically victimising PTI, saying action in KP was directed against terrorists and those who had challenged the writ of the state by taking up arms.

He accused militants of planning attacks from Afghanistan before entering Pakistan to target civilians and law enforcement personnel.

The minister also said the government had pursued negotiations to resolve political differences peacefully before the emergency measures were imposed.

Rs160 billion earmarked for affected districts

Chaudhry said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved a Rs160 billion grant during an apex committee meeting in Peshawar attended by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and senior civilian and military officials.

He said the first priority would be to strengthen the provincial police by improving their operational capacity and providing weapons, armoured vehicles and other equipment needed to confront militants.

The funding would also be spent on health, education, sanitation and infrastructure development, he added.

A portion would go towards completing projects that had remained pending for 12 years, which Chaudhry blamed on the PTI-led provincial government.

He said the maximum share of the grant would be directed towards the 12 terrorism-affected districts.

Minister explains scope of emergency

Chaudhry clarified that governor’s rule under Article 234 of the Constitution applied across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the emergency under Article 232 also covered the entire province.

He said the 12 districts had been given special status because they were more severely affected by terrorism. The arrangement was intended to allow police and security agencies in these areas to seek federal assistance directly, without having to route requests through the chief minister’s or governor’s secretariats.

The statement comes after President Asif Ali Zardari approved emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, following a recommendation from the federal cabinet.

The federal government cited the deteriorating security situation and what it described as inadequate cooperation from the PTI-led provincial government on counterterrorism. PTI rejected the justification and challenged the measures in court.

The federal government subsequently established an 11-member advisory council and, on October 17, appointed 48 members to a separate council covering 12 terrorism-affected districts following jirga consultations.