KP lawmakers demand end to 'drone deaths'

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted two resolutions, one calling for austerity measures to be embraced as a national practice and the other seeking immediate action to stop drone attacks in Bara tehsil.

The House said resources should be used effectively, unnecessary spending should be curtailed and citizens should be protected from security threats.

The resolution on drone attacks in Bara tehsil was moved by MPA Abdul Ghani. He told the assembly that although the area was peaceful, it was facing attacks on a daily basis. He said innocent civilians, especially women and children, were being affected, while property was also being damaged. He urged the House to ensure immediate and practical steps to halt such attacks and safeguard human life and public safety.

The second resolution was presented by PML-N MPA Amina Sardar, who described austerity as a national requirement in light of the prevailing economic situation. Both resolutions were passed unanimously.

Lawmakers raise wider concerns

During the sitting, members from both the treasury and opposition benches voiced concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, inflation, energy shortages and what they described as an unequal distribution of resources. They called for prompt and effective action by the government.

Speaking on a point of order, Awami National Party lawmaker Nisar Baz said civilians were being killed and injured in incidents stretching from Bajaur to Waziristan. He said tensions along the Pak-Afghan border were causing hardship for people on both sides.

Referring to recent incidents in Bajaur, Khyber and Kunar, he said children, women and elderly people had been killed, and added that urgent dialogue was needed to avoid further escalation.

The presiding officer informed the House that a special committee had already been constituted to examine the law and order situation in detail.

Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Ahmad Karim Kundi said the assembly had framed new rules aimed at ensuring government accountability, but said their implementation remained weak.

Lawmaker Samiullah said the province was producing more gas and electricity than it needed, yet residents were still facing acute shortages.

Ajab Gul said inflation had become unbearable for the public and added that political stability was necessary to address the law and order crisis.

Member Assembly Afshan Hussain criticised what she called the misuse of budget allocations and said the education and health sectors were in serious decline. She also termed Timergara Medical College a "ghost project" and alleged that billions of rupees had been wasted.

MPA Daud Shah said the NFC share of the merged districts had been withheld. He also said prolonged load-shedding was continuing despite the province’s higher electricity production, and raised concerns over the closure of the CNG industry.