ISLAMABAD/ PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday met tribal elders and discussed the improvement of law & order situation in the ex-Fata districts and infrastructural construction and development activity there.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Fazlur Rehman led the delegation. Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar and Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema were also present in the meeting. Shehbaz said he was happy to receive a delegation of elders from ex-Fata districts. “You belong to those areas of Pakistan, which have historical background with their rich traditions,” he said. Shehbaz assured that restoration of peace in ex-Fata areas was the government’s top priority.
He also pointed out that the officers and jawans of security forces and law-enforcement agencies had been rendering sacrifices in these tribal areas. Acknowledging the sacrifices of tribes for peace and security in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif restored the quota of ex-Fata districts in the country’s engineering universities and medical colleges. He made this announcement while talking to a delegation of elders from ex-Fata districts. He also stressed that people belonging to all schools of thought will have to play their role for peace in the country.
He said the federal government was taking every possible step for development and welfare of people from ex-Fata areas adding that extending equal opportunity of education, employment and health was also among the government’s priorities. The prime minister also passed instructions for expanding a committee headed by Minister for Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Frontier Regions with representation to be given to notables from tribal areas. The delegation appreciated the government’s strategy and resolve of the armed forces to defeat the adversary in Pak-India conflict.
In a related development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur categorically ruled out the possibility of a new military operation in the province, declaring that the KP people will no longer be subjected to failed security experiments.
Speaking to the media after chairing the government-convened All Parties Conference (APC) at the Chief Minister’s House amid boycott by the major opposition parties, he called on the federal government to take constitutional responsibility for securing the western border with Afghanistan and demanded immediate political consultation with the province, including the convening of a Jirga with the Afghan government.
Gandapur presented a wide-ranging political and security roadmap based on traditional Jirgas, constitutional guarantees and provincial autonomy.
The APC was attended by the PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami south’s head Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, former governor Shah Farman Khan, Maulana Yousaf Shah and Abdul Haq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Samiul Haq group, provincial ministers, MPAs and representatives of various political parties, including Qaumi Watan Party, PTI-Parliamentarians.
Mainstream political and religious parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Awami National Party had already turned down Gandapur’s invitation for the APC.
The APC’s purpose was to discuss the deteriorating security situation of the province and chalk out a joint strategy based on their suggestions and recommendations to get rid of terrorism. “I had invited these parties and presented my proposals for the province’s worsening security situation,” Gandapur told journalists, saying Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already endured countless operations and policy failures. “A number of military operations have been conducted in this province. This cycle of destruction must end now, as thousands of our people, including the security forces and civilians, have been martyred but peace could not be restored,” the chief minister complained.
Gandapur announced that traditional Jirgas would be held in every tribal district, involving elders, elected representatives, and local influencers to build consensus on peace and security. “Within 15 days, we will convene a grand Jirga to determine the province’s collective way forward,” he said.
Rejecting any possibility of a new military operation, the CM declared, “Let me make this absolutely clear: we neither accept nor permit any operation on our soil. We are sending a clear message. No such action will be allowed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” He warned that any attempt by the federal government to conduct operations in the province through its own forces would invite a strong reaction. “If the federation tries to intervene through any force without our consent, it will have serious consequences,” he warned.
Highlighting the evolving threat, he revealed that terrorists had begun using drone technology and expressed alarm that drone attacks were also killing innocent civilians. “Drone operations must be stopped immediately both by the militants and the state. Civilians are being targeted, and this is unacceptable,” he stressed.
Gandapur accused some elements in the security agencies of protecting so-called “good Taliban” which, he said, was eroding public trust and creating divisions among institutions and religious scholars. “Let me be very clear, the presence of ‘good Taliban’ is real, and they are present in several areas in the province. If they are not expelled, we will take a strict action,” he added. The chief minister vowed to completely eliminate the “good Taliban” and other terrorist groups from the province. “This dual policy must end. Their existence is tearing public confidence apart and damaging institutional credibility,” he added.
He announced that 300 youths from the local population would be recruited into the police force in every tribal district, strengthening law-enforcement from within the communities. “Recruitment has already started and preference is being given to locals,” he added.
On the matter of federal responsibility, Gandapur reiterated that the duty to control cross-border terrorist infiltration lies with the federal government. “The responsibility for securing the border area falls entirely on Islamabad. The internal law and order situation is ours to manage, and we are prepared to do so but the federal government must secure the frontier first,” he went on to add.
He urged the federal government to immediately hold a Jirga with Afghanistan, asserting that the province must be part of any negotiations involving cross-border issues. “A Jirga must be convened with Afghanistan without delay. Those representing the province in such matters must be from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa itself not outsiders,” he said.
About recent federal initiatives, Gandapur expressed reservations about the selection of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to represent Pakistan in Kabul.
“Mohsin Naqvi may be someone’s favourite, but he cannot represent our province in Afghanistan. He doesn’t understand our ground realities. Those who speak for KP must come from KP,” he asserted. He stressed that promises made during the merger of Fata must be fulfilled without delay.
Gandapur rejected the imposition of federal taxes in the merged tribal areas, calling it unconstitutional. “We oppose federal taxation in the erstwhile Fata and Pata. These levies must be withdrawn immediately,” he said.
He made it clear that any effort to transfer control of KP’s mines and minerals would be opposed. “There is absolutely nothing in our mineral affairs that warrants suspicion or intervention. We will not hand over our resources to anyone,” he stated.
Criticizing the federal government’s unilateral move to transform the Frontier Constabulary into a federal force, the CM said, “The province was never consulted, and we do not accept this transformation. No federal force will be allowed to operate in our territory without our permission.”
Calling for economic revival, Gandapur demanded immediate reopening of border trade and clearance of outstanding provincial dues. “Border trade must be restored to boost employment and economic activity. We are also demanding the release of all our financial entitlements, including NFC arrears and tobacco cess dues,” he said.
Stressing KP’s economic potential, he reiterated that the province could become self-reliant if given its rightful share and space to operate. “Let us run our own province. We can produce electricity, manage resources and generate revenue if the constitutional rights of our people are respected,” he said.
Earlier, the chief minister chaired the APC. During the in-camera session, the participants were briefed on the province’s current law and order situation and the steps being undertaken by the provincial government to restore peace.
Officials highlighted the challenges posed by militancy and outlined the administration’s strategy to counter emerging threats. The participants expressed deep sorrow over the sacrifices of martyrs and expressed solidarity with their families. At the conclusion of the conference, a unified course of action was announced. The joint declaration underscored the urgency of initiating comprehensive and coordinated measures to establish lasting peace in the province.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee to prepare recommendations for aligning civil services with contemporary requirements, improving the structural framework, and modernizing the system.
Chairing a meeting on civil service reforms in Islamabad, he directed the committee, to be headed by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, to submit comprehensive, reform-based recommendations after detailed consultations within one month.
He instructed the committee to address merit-based recruitment of the best talent, introduce key performance indicators based on specific targets for promotions, and propose improvements or effective alternatives to the existing Annual Confidential Report system. He also emphasized the inclusion of a roadmap for enhancing officers’ capacity in modern technology and systems.