By Delawar Jan
“No, we cannot suggest such a change as we are one of the pioneers of the Constitution,” Iftikhar told reporters while responding to a number of statements issued by different politicians that said that the ANP had suggested replacement of word “Islamic republic” with “people’s republic” in the Constitution.
The information minister also poured scorn on rumours that the provincial capital was being shifted to Abbottabad. The minister unveiled security plan for Peshawar after a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Hoti and said that a 2,000-strong Community Police Force (CPF) would be raised besides establishing 18 police posts with a cost of Rs760 million to secure the Frontier metropolis.
“The name of Pakistan is written in the Constitution which was signed by our leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan. So how can we make such a demand,” Iftikhar argued. The hue and cry over the issue, he said, was a biased view void of truth. Referring to press statements issued by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan about shifting of provincial capital to Abbottabad, Mian Iftikhar said: “We are the rulers but decisions as to what will be done and what will not are being taken by them [PML-N leaders].”
The provincial minister pointed out that another leader of the same party had said they would not allow shifting of the capital to Abbottabad as it could attract terrorists to that area. Mian Iftikhar vowed: “We will embrace death but not run away from terrorists. Our resolve is unshakable.”
Reading out from a statement of Iqbal Zafar Jhagra carried by a newspaper in which he had used harsh language against ANP, the minister asked Mian Nawaz Sharif to discipline him, or else, “we know how to give a tit-for-tat response.”
The minister said Jhagra was creating bad blood between the ANP and PML-N by issuing such objectionable statements. He said important decisions were taken at the meeting convened to devise a security plan for the city. He said that the proposed CPF would be raised for two years, for which Rs480 million had been earmarked. Irrespective of political affiliations, he said, the force would be raised from the communities and members of lashkars would be preferred.
“The lashkars have played a historic role in guarding the city and rendered unparalleled sacrifices. We recognise their sacrifices and decided to pay one million rupees to the slain nazim union council Adezai,” he remarked.
Iftikhar said coordination between the lashkars and police would be ensured. He said the recruits of the community force would be appointed purely on merit and in line with the police recruitment policy. They will get Rs10,000 salary, he added.
The minister said they would be deployed around Peshawar on routes leading to the city. “Terrorists use these routes to enter Peshawar and carry out attacks.” The meeting, he said, also decided to ask federal government to provide 1,000 FC personnel to NWFP and set aside Rs280 million for establishing 18 new police posts in the city. “The implementation of this plan will improve security situation,” Iftikhar hoped.
The NWFP information minister said the Eidul Azha would be celebrated with simplicity. “How can we celebrate Eid with pomp and show when we have heartbreaking incidents and bloodshed all over.”