STAFF REPORTER
PESHAWAR : The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session began after a delay of approximately two and a half hours under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. At the outset, the House offered prayers for police personnel and civilians who lost their lives in recent incidents of violence in Swat, Balochistan, Upper Chitral, and other parts of the country.
The Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning India’s August 5, 2019 decision to revoke the special constitutional status of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution, moved by treasury member Shafiullah Khan, described the move as illegal, unilateral, and contrary to international law. It strongly condemned the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, reaffirmed support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, and urged the international community to take notice of the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir while calling for a resolution of the dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
Speaker Babar Saleem Swati invited both treasury and opposition members to express their views on Kashmir. Provincial Energy Minister Nazir Ahmad Abbasi said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stand firmly with the people of Kashmir and their concerns should be heard.
JUI-F parliamentary leader Lutfur Rehman said the Kashmir issue remains one of Pakistan’s most important national concerns, but practical steps have not matched official rhetoric. He claimed that his party had warned during the merger of the former tribal areas that the Kashmir dispute would become more complicated, adding that India later revoked the region’s special constitutional status. He also said that although the Constitution provides a mechanism for creating new provinces, no meaningful progress has been made in that regard.
Provincial Housing Minister Dr. Amjad Ali said India’s 2019 decision to end Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was an illegal act and reiterated Pakistan’s support for the people of Kashmir.
Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Ahmad Karim Kundi condemned India’s actions in Kashmir and criticized the suspension of the water treaty by India. He also expressed concern over terrorism, political arrests, the use of preventive detention laws, and the need to restore student unions.
Treasury member Munir Hussain Luqmani stressed that Pakistan’s foreign policy should be strengthened to present the Kashmir issue more effectively at the international level. He also voiced concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Swat and called for implementation of promises made for victims of the 2005 earthquake.
Awami National Party member Nisar Baz criticized the government’s handling of security, saying the Assembly session had remained postponed while security incidents continued across the province. He questioned why treasury members themselves were repeatedly raising issues related to governance and law and order.
Special Assistant for Social Welfare Malik Liaquat Ali informed the House about attacks on FC personnel, the kidnapping of two people in his constituency, and demands for ransom, saying no tangible outcome had emerged despite committee meetings on the matter.
During a discussion on the mining sector, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati directed the government to brief the Assembly on safety SOPs for mines and asked the relevant standing committee to examine the issue in detail. Provincial Minister for Mines Arif Ahmadzai said coordination with the Balochistan government was continuing, illegal mines would be shut down, and training and certification for mine workers was being introduced to improve safety standards.
Treasury member Ihtesham Khan highlighted the problems faced by tobacco growers in Mardan, Swabi, and Charsadda, saying farmers were not receiving fair prices for their produce despite their hard work.
Treasury member Ubaidur Rehman criticized the condition of Timergara Medical College, saying it had shown no improvement over the past year despite staff receiving salaries. He warned of a boycott of Assembly proceedings if the issue was not resolved.
Deputy Speaker Suraya Bibi called for a special relief package for flood victims in Upper Chitral, urged the government to declare the affected districts disaster-hit, and sought emergency measures for rehabilitation.
During the session, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati also commented on the situation in Swat, saying political forces were continuing their struggle through democratic means.
The Assembly concluded a wide-ranging debate covering Kashmir, law and order, terrorism, kidnappings for ransom, mining safety, the problems of tobacco farmers, healthcare, flood rehabilitation in Upper Chitral, foreign policy, and broader political issues, with members from both the treasury and opposition urging the government to take effective measures to address public concerns.
