PTI lawmakers raise corruption, law and order concerns to KP CM

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf lawmakers raised complaints about corruption in government departments, deteriorating law and order, and what they described as an unresponsive attitude from police, district administration and the bureaucracy during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday night.

The meeting took place amid social media reports suggesting differences within the ruling party following the induction of new ministers, advisers and special assistants, who took oath on May 22. Some MPAs were unhappy over not being included in the provincial cabinet. The newspaper reported, citing insiders, that the chief minister had called the meeting in that context.

There were conflicting accounts about attendance at the gathering. 52 out of 92 PTI MPAs attended, with KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati among those present. One participant said that around 20 MPAs did not attend and said they were disgruntled. However, Information and Public Relations Minister Shafi Jan said 75 lawmakers were present and maintained that the remaining MPAs were outside the province, with some abroad and four in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Lawmakers voice complaints

Participants told the chief minister that officials in multiple departments were not responding to lawmakers’ requests related to public issues. Some MPAs said police officers, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and revenue officials were not addressing legitimate matters brought to them by elected representatives.

One participant said lawmakers told the chief minister that corruption in the revenue department had increased despite digitisation of records and alleged that patwaris were not handling legitimate work without bribes. Another MPA was reported as saying that station house officers ignored requests for lawful assistance from PTI lawmakers but acted when residents paid them.

A lawmaker from the southern districts urged the chief minister to treat the law and order situation as a serious issue, saying local residents could not go out after sunset. A legislator from northern parts of the province also complained about poor-quality work on development schemes and said contractors had raised concerns about kickbacks allegedly being taken by departmental officials.

Government response and CM remarks

Shafi Jan said the meeting had been held in a positive atmosphere and ended smoothly. He said all MPAs were united under the leadership of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, while acknowledging that lawmakers had some reservations regarding the bureaucracy and adding that those concerns would be addressed soon.

The chief minister told participants their presence showed unity and collective resolve despite attempts to create divisions within the parliamentary party. He said no force could separate them from Imran Khan’s vision and ideology.

The meeting was convened to discuss concerns over the health of PTI founder Imran Khan and the provincial government’s preparations for the upcoming budget. The chief minister expressed concern over Imran Khan’s condition in jail and said negligence by prison authorities and indifference from the Punjab and federal governments had caused around 85 per cent loss of vision in one of his eyes.

He also said the next provincial budget would be centered on public welfare and would include several new initiatives for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The meeting reviewed matters relating to provincial rights, distribution of resources and pending financial liabilities, while the chief minister also voiced concern over what he described as continuing federal constraints on the province’s constitutional and financial entitlements.

Coordination committee formed

Meanwhile, PTI announced the formation of a Parliamentary and Political Coordination Committee for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve liaison among national and provincial parliamentarians, the provincial government and the party’s provincial organisation.

Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser was named chairman of the committee. Its members include KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PTI KP General Secretary Ali Asghar Khan, MNA Muhammad Atif Khan, Local Government Minister Meena Khan Afridi and MPA Akbar Ayub Khan. The committee will advise the chief minister, ministers, the PTI provincial president and the leadership of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan on matters falling within their respective areas.