- Body would sit together with tribal elders, KP governor, CM to formulate recommendations for addressing issues: PM
- Affirms immense sacrifices rendered by people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the fight against terrorism
- Says KP had received Rs700b since 2010 under NFC Award as its one percent share allocated for anti-terrorism efforts
- Reaffirms Pakistan’s rights under IWT of 1960, asserting India can’t deprive Pakistan of its rightful share of water or suspend treaty unilaterally
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday affirmed the immense sacrifices rendered by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the fight against terrorism, reiterating his government’s resolve to address all issues faced by the province and set up a committee for the task, state media reported.
“The committee would deliberate on all demands and issues raised by the KP chief minister as the federal government would stand by the province until the complete eradication of the menace of terrorism,” Premier Shehbaz Sharif stated while representative jirga in Peshawar, Radio Pakistan reported.
PM Shehbaz said the committee would sit together with tribal elders, the KP governor and chief minister to formulate recommendations in this regard, saying that the federal government would give serious attention to the recommendations to benefit the province’s valiant people.
The jirga was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal and provincial ministers, senators, local parliamentarians, the Corps Commander Peshawar, the KP’s Chief Secretary, and the Inspector General of Police.
The participants offered Fateha for the martyrs of Pakistan, paying tribute to both civilian and military personnel who have laid down their lives for the nation.
Addressing the representative jirga, the prime minister said that KP had received Rs700 billion since 2010 under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award as its one percent share allocated for anti-terrorism efforts.
“These funds were released to strengthen the provincial police force, develop the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies,” he added.
“The decision to allocate one percent of the NFC Award for KP, agreed by all provinces, was just and appropriate decision, as KP has remained the frontline province in the war against terrorism,” he said.
On the NFC Award, the prime minister said: “Ali Amin said it has been 15 years since the last NFC Award; it should now be revisited. I had instructed the formation of a committee regarding the NFC Award. The chief minister has informed me that names have been sent for provincial representation.”
Highlighting the province’s unwavering commitment and support to Pakistan, the prime minister said that KP’s people had voted in favour of the country during the referendum and had stood by the armed forces through all challenges.
“The sacrifices of KP’s people who laid down their lives and sustained injuries for the defence of Pakistan are deeply revered and will be remembered in golden words,” he added.
Referring to the tragic Army Public School (APS) attack on December 16, 2014, the prime minister paid tribute to the students and teachers who lost their lives in the brutal incident.
Speaking on recent security developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan had given a strong response to last month’s unprovoked Indian aggression under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s decisive retaliation had frustrated India’s nefarious plans, adding that “India will never forget this decisive response of Pakistan.”
The prime minister further shared that during recent visits to Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan, leaders of these countries expressed joy over Pakistan’s “historic victory” against India. He said that the Indian Prime Minister Modi was left “frustrated and in a state of panic” after the defeat.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s rights under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, the prime minister asserted that India cannot deprive Pakistan of its rightful share of water and suspend the treaty unilaterally.
He emphasized the need to expand existing water storage capacity and accelerate work on major dam projects, including Diamer Bhasha and Dasu dams.
Calling for national unity in the face of external threats, PM Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the people of KP for offering special prayers for the country’s success against India.
KP CM seeks KP’s role in peace process with Afghanistan, halt to drone attacks
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur urged the federal government to include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the peace process with Afghanistan and to stop drone attacks in the province.
Addressing a jirga in Peshawar on Tuesday, CM Gandapur congratulated the entire nation for responding decisively to the cowardly enemy’s aggression.
He stated that the founders of PTI have united the nation against the enemy, proving their leadership, and that despite political differences, they have demonstrated unity for the country’s defence and integrity.
Ali Amin Gandapur called on the federal government to refrain from imposing taxes on the former FATA and PATA regions and emphasized the need for thoughtful investment to assist terrorism-affected tribal areas. He insisted that drone attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be stopped, as innocent civilians suffer losses due to these strikes.
He demanded that the share of tribal areas in the NFC Award be transferred to the province and that the federal government pay all outstanding dues to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CM Gandapur also called for the restoration of the jirga system to provide sustainable solutions to disputes in the tribal areas, and reiterated the importance of involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the peace process with neighbouring Afghanistan.
