Amjad Hadi Yousafzai
Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session on Monday assumed exceptional significance as lawmakers discussed the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, condemned the killing of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) provincial patron-in-chief Maulana Muhammad Idrees, and approved major legislation aimed at protecting the properties of overseas Pakistanis.
During the session, the House unanimously passed a condemnation resolution moved by JUI-F MPA Adnan Khan Wazir over the killing of Maulana Muhammad Idrees. The resolution strongly denounced the incident and called on the government to immediately arrest those involved and ensure they are given strict punishment under the law. Fateha was also offered for the departed leader.
In a major legislative development, the assembly approved the “Overseas Pakistanis Property Bill 2026,” presented by Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam. Under the new law, special courts will be established to resolve property disputes involving overseas Pakistanis. These courts will be required to decide cases, including illegal occupation matters, within 120 days.
The legislation allows overseas Pakistanis to file applications online and record testimony through video link. Appeals against court decisions may be filed within 15 days, while the Peshawar High Court will be bound to decide appeals within 90 days.
Opening the debate on law and order, Adnan Wazir said it appeared that neither the federal nor the provincial government was in effective control. He said Maulana Muhammad Idrees was assassinated in Charsadda, while terrorists occupied a police post in Bannu throughout the night without any timely response from authorities. “If the government cannot protect the people, it should resign,” he said.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Sardar Shah Jahan said that restoring peace in the province required coordinated efforts by both the federal and provincial governments. He noted that Pakistan’s armed forces had previously eliminated terrorist strongholds through major operations, but incidents of terrorism were once again on the rise.
JUI-F parliamentary leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman urged the government to present a clear and effective strategy for restoring peace. He said that despite repeated discussions and the formation of committees, no meaningful results had emerged.
The session turned tense during the speech of PML-N MPA Sobia Shahid, who criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, saying it had been in power in the province for 13 years but had failed to provide full protection to the public. Her remarks regarding the military triggered strong protests from treasury members Dr. Amjad Ali, Liaqat Ali, and Ghani Afridi. Deputy Speaker Suraiya Bibi switched off her microphone and ordered some of her remarks expunged from the official record.
Awami National Party (ANP) MPA Nisar Baz Khan delivered one of the most forceful speeches of the session, voicing concern over terrorism, target killings, and the establishment’s role in politics. He said Maulana Muhammad Idrees was a non-controversial religious figure and questioned why even such personalities were being targeted.
He said ANP had consistently opposed terrorism and paid a heavy price for its stance. He called for an end to the distinction between “good” and “bad” Taliban and demanded a grand national dialogue to formulate a clear policy for peace.
Nisar Baz Khan said the writ of the state had weakened and that terrorists were moving freely from Bajaur to Waziristan, leaving the public increasingly insecure. He maintained that Pakistan’s problems were fundamentally political in nature and could only be resolved through political leadership.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session underscored the growing concern across the political spectrum over the province’s worsening security situation. While the House stood united in condemning the killing of Maulana Muhammad Idrees and passed landmark legislation for overseas Pakistanis, the debate reflected deep anxiety over rising terrorism, political uncertainty, and institutional weaknesses. The focus is now on whether the government can move beyond statements and take concrete steps to restore peace, security, and public confidence.
