PM Shehbaz addresses provincial apex committee meeting in Peshawar

On 11th October, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated a meeting of the provincial apex committee in Peshawar to assess the current security landscape in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The premier arrived on his maiden visit to the province since the governor's rule and emergency were enforced on the same day. Key attendees included the Chief of Defence Forces, Chief of Army Staff, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, federal ministers, and newly appointed provincial advisers.

During the meeting, Shehbaz emphasized that emergency and governor's rule were imposed only as a last resort. Describing KP as "very beautiful," he expressed his hope that the government would work tirelessly to uplift the region economically and socially. Noting that the province had endured significant losses due to terrorism, with 80,000 lives lost and billions of dollars in economic damage, Shehbaz regretted that terrorists were allowed to return after the province's security was restored.

The premier lamented that young soldiers had laid down their lives for their country, only for their sacrifices to be disregarded. He called for a comprehensive analysis of the reasons behind the failure to honor and respect these sacrifices, emphasizing the criminal negligence towards national interests. He highlighted the neglect of education, healthcare, and protection of lives and property in favor of combating terrorism.

Governor Kundi, along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, chaired a meeting of the apex committee the day after governor's rule was imposed. Kundi assured Naqvi of his commitment to enforce federal policies and collaborate with security forces for peace and prosperity. Later, Kundi called for stronger coordination between the center and the province, emphasizing that counterterrorism policies would be determined in Islamabad, not in Kabul.

The government's decision to impose emergency and governor's rule stemmed from the PTI-led provincial government's alleged "deliberate disengagement" from the fight against terrorism. This decision was also endorsed by Parliament, despite protests from the opposition. The move followed failed negotiations between the federal and provincial governments over counterterrorism policies, with the PTI accusing the center of sidelining KP in security decisions and the center criticizing KP's efforts against terrorism.