CM calls for more vigilance in precarious security situation

Pays tribute to martyred cops and civilians

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Monday paid tributes to the policemen and civilians were martyred in the Shabqadar blast and asked the security personnel and common citizens to remain vigilant in the prevailing situation.

Speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House, he praised the gallantry and bravery of the cops, who laid down their lives in the line of duty.

He said that every citizen needed to be watchful and should keep a vigilant eye on the surrounding and things taking place around him. “We will jointly defend our people and country,” he added.

He said that he had written a letter to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan before the surge in terror acts in the province to take steps to check the use of Afghan SIMs and rising cases of extortion.

The chief minister added that the police would complete investigation into the incident at the earliest.He was flanked by Mushtaq Ghani, Special Assistant on Information and Higher Education.

Referring to the local government system in the province, Pervez Khattak said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition had given a local governance system to the province that was better than the ones being introduced in other provinces.

“We have transferred powers to nazims, besides transferring 30 percent funds to the local government institutions,” he said.Pervez Khattak advised the local government representatives, who staged a protest during the local convention to support their demand for salaries, to utilize own energies in serving people instead of seeking salaries.

To a question about the Peshawar safe city project, the chief minister said Rs11 billion had been sanctioned for the mega project and discussion with several companies were going on to executive it in a transparent manner.

To another query about the land-grabbing mafia’s possession of the state land in Charsadda, he warned that the government would not allow anyone to grab state property.It may be mentioned that the provincial government had planted 40,000 saplings over 891 acres state land in the district but the land grabbing mafia set 2,000 saplings on fire.