Gandapur “questions” visits of Dar and Naqvi to Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday criticised the federal government, saying that the two representatives — federal ministers Ishaq Dar and Mohsin Naqvi — sent to Afghanistan could not represent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Read more: Having the cup of tea in Kabul proved to be very costly: Dar

“[Interior Minister] Mohsin Naqvi has no understanding of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s problems,” he told a press conference after the All Parties Conference (APC) in Peshawar.

Naqvi, in his recent visit to Kabul, had raised the issue of terrorists outfits, saying these organisations are creating instability in the region, which required immediate action.

Read more: Terrorist outfits producing instability, joint action needed: Pakistan

During his visit, the interior minister repeated Islamabad’s stance amid Afghanistan failure to control the terrorists operating from its territory, resulting in an alarming increase in terrorism acts in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the main opposition parties had earlier announced boycotting the event, citing the non-serious attitude of the PTI-led provincial government.

Gandapur’s latest assertion may be described as a clear interference in the foreign affairs — which is a federal subject around the world, no matter what the state’s nature is.

The comments came at a time when several important PTI leaders have been convicted in recent days for their involvement in the May 9 attacks, described as an attempt to incite rebellion under an coordinate plan.

Read more: Qureshi acquitted, Yasmin Rashid convicted in Sherpao bridge case

‘NO MILITARY OPERATION’

One the other hand, Gandapur, who is ruling a province that has been worst affected by the re-emergence of terrorism, also said that they won’t allow anyone to launch an [military] operation or use drones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At the same time, he said they would tell the Centre that border management was a federal subject and Islamabad should take steps to make the borders secure.

However, the chief minister reiterated the stance of PTI founder Imran Khan that the tribesmen has complete knowledge of their areas.

That’s why Imran has always opposed military operations and even allowed the terrorists to resettle in erstwhile FATA.

Meanwhile, the provincial chief minister also claimed with respect to the visits of Dar and Naqvi as well as other developments that not taking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into confidence was a constitutional violation.

With respect to the finances, Gandapur claimed that the Centre was not paying the province’s dues and the amount should be released immediately.

The federal government isn’t fulfilling its responsibilities, the chief minister remarked.

JOINT DECLARATION

Meanwhile, the APC ended with a joint declaration, as Jamaat-i-Islami, Qaumi Watan Party and PTI-Parliamentarians attended the event.

The declaration calls for sustainable peace through comprehensive and coordinated steps, as the participants expressed their support to the martyrs.

At the same time, the APC suggested intelligence-based operations against Khawarij to root out terrorism from the province.

It said all the political parties, [tribal] elders, citizens, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, administration and law enforcement agencies promise extensive action without any discrimination for attaining sustainable peace and rooting out terrorists.

On the other hand, the APC also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be rescued from the scourge of terrorism while restoring peace, which would usher in a new era of prosperity and sustainable development.