By: MUHAMMAD REHAN
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited Dera Ismail Khan and inquired about the health of people injured in the terrorist attack on the Aman Mela check post.
Provincial Minister for Information, Public Relations and Information Technology Shafi Jan, former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Commissioner Dera Daud Khan, RPO Dera Ghulam Mubasher Maiken, DPO Dera Ziauddin Ahmed and Deputy Commissioner Dera Hikmatullah accompanied the Chief Minister.
During his visit to the hospital, the Chief Minister met the injured and sought a detailed briefing from medical authorities about their treatment. Hospital officials briefed him on the medical facilities being provided and efforts to ensure treatment for patients from Dera Ismail Khan, southern districts and adjoining areas.
Talking to the media at Al-Amin House, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the provincial government was committed to combating terrorism and that an effective strategy was required to establish lasting peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said significant improvement in the province’s security situation could be achieved within 100 days if the provincial government’s proposals and policy were implemented.
The Chief Minister said several major and thousands of intelligence-based operations had been conducted against terrorism over the past several years, but the threat had not been completely eliminated. He stressed the need for a change in policy and said the provincial government and people should be taken into confidence in efforts to counter terrorism.
He urged the federal government to expedite the provision of modern armoured vehicles and other security equipment to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the provincial government had already made payments for the equipment but the required resources had yet to be provided.
Sohail Afridi said work was underway on Safe City projects in the province and steps were being taken to improve security in Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat and other areas. He called for greater cooperation from relevant federal institutions according to the province’s security needs.
He said police personnel, security forces and civilians continued to lose their lives because of terrorism and stressed that the provincial government urgently required additional security resources.
Condemning terrorism, the Chief Minister said anyone who attacks civilians, opens fire or carries out a suicide attack is a terrorist, regardless of their area, sect or group.
Responding to a question about assistance for families of those killed in terrorism, he said families of civilians, police personnel and others who had lost their lives in the current wave of terrorism would be provided a Shaheed package.
On questions regarding Governor’s Rule and possible federal action in the province, Sohail Afridi said those intending to take such measures should act rather than issue threats. He said his party remained committed to the ideology of Imran Khan and its stated objective of “real freedom.”
The Chief Minister also criticised what he described as divisive political statements, saying such language could increase hatred and division in society. He urged the federal government to take action against elements whom he accused of creating divisions among the public and different sections of society.
He said the KP government was ready to cooperate with the federal government, but the province’s security requirements could not be ignored. He reiterated that an effective counter-terrorism policy should take ground realities into account and involve both the provincial government and the people.
During the visit, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also met former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur at his residence, Al-Amin House, where various matters were discussed.
