Shahzad Rasheed
PESHAWAR: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha has questioned the priorities of the provincial government amid growing concerns over law and order and terrorism in the province.
Addressing a press conference alongside PPP KP Information Secretary Amjad Afridi and other provincial leaders, Shah Bacha said the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deeply concerning, with security personnel and civilians continuing to lose their lives in terrorist incidents.
He claimed that nearly 500 security personnel had been martyred and around 2,500 people injured in terrorism-related incidents during 2026. He said that under such circumstances, the provincial government’s foremost responsibility should be protecting the lives and property of citizens and ensuring effective administration.
Shah Bacha questioned whether the Chief Minister would focus on running the province or lead political marches. Referring to the PTI’s planned October 4 Islamabad march, he said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa currently needed peace, administrative attention and public service rather than political confrontation.
He further said that if the PTI threatened to march on the Governor House in response to the possibility of Governor’s Rule, the PPP would stand with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and respond to any unconstitutional or violent action through constitutional and democratic means.
The PPP leader stressed that his party did not oppose the constitutional right to peaceful protest. However, he said political activity should not be allowed to undermine peace, economic activity or routine life in the province.
Amjad Afridi said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needed peace, development, employment, education and healthcare rather than political confrontation. He called for political disputes to be resolved through dialogue, Parliament and constitutional institutions.
The PPP leaders urged the provincial government to clearly present its counterterrorism strategy and concrete measures for restoring peace in the province.
