Tension in Khyber: Saif says efforts on to resolve issue peacefully

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, said on Wednesday the KP government was trying to resolve the issue peacefully after the clash between the banned Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and police in the Khyber district.

In a statement, he said that the federal government had outlawed the PTM under the Anti-Terrorism Act, adding as per the notification, the PTM was involved in activities against the state and constitution.

Barrister Saif, who is also the spokesman for the KP government, said as per law, a proscribed organization could not be allowed to hold political gatherings or rallies.He said Section 144 was enforced in the Khyber district after the banned PTM announced to hold a gathering there. “Today the banned organization tried to arrange a gathering which led to a clash and unfortunate incident,” he said, while alluding to the firing and injuries.

Barrister Saif said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had summoned the elected representatives for consultation. “Contacts are being established with the tribal elders and the parties to resolve the issue peacefully as per the chief minister’s directives,” he went on to add.

He said the KP government was making all efforts to keep the situation under control as protecting the people in KP was the government’s responsibility. “The chief minister is trying to resolve the issue under his supervision through the Jirga. All the parties are being invited to the Jirga,” said the spokesman for the KP government.