Damage to KP House: Saif says AG asked to file FIR against Islamabad IGP, others

PESHAWAR: Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Thursday said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had directed the advocate general to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, and other officials for ransacking the KP House in the federal capital recently and thereby causing huge damage to it.

“Under the law, an FIR can be filed in any part of the country. The KP government will explore all legal avenues to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice,” Saif said as he visited the Peshawar Press Club to greet the newly elected office-bearers of Khyber Union of Journalists (KhUJ).

Saif said the police destroyed doors and valuable furniture, and caused significant damage to vehicles, leading to financial losses amounting to millions of rupees. Additionally, the KP government officials, provincial assembly members and their families were subjected to harassment and mistreatment during the attack.

Saif condemned the actions of Islamabad Police, led by IG Islamabad, which resulted in an extensive property damage to the KP House in Islamabad.

The aide to the chief minister made it clear that the KP government would not tolerate such illegal actions and vowed to take strong legal measures against those responsible.

He accused the federal government of lack of cooperation with the KP government in addressing the issue of terrorism, which he pointed out was not just a provincial issue but a national security matter. Barrister Saif pointed out that the roots of terrorism lay in policies and actions of the past 40 years, which continued to have a profound impact on Pakistan, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Despite the sacrifices of Pakistan Army and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, the federal government has failed to provide adequate resources and a coherent strategy for combating terrorism. Lapses are continuously witnessed in ensuring border security, action against illegal SIM cards, action against unregistered vehicles, money laundering, cyber security and other areas which fall under the domain of federal government,” he explained.

The adviser to the chief minister criticized the federal government after accusing it of failing to take necessary actions and provide required resources to effectively combat the issue. “The federal government has engaged in political point-scoring while neglecting serious steps to address terrorism,” he claimed.

Saif expressed concern over the federal government’s failure to establish direct communication with Afghanistan. “Critical issues like border security and terrorism cannot be addressed effectively without proper engagement,” he said, adding that a lack of direct communication by the federal government with Afghanistan was posing a significant security threat to Pakistan and had compounded the challenges.

Saif criticized the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), particularly Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, after accusing them of deleting their previous posts about Donald Trump after his success in the recent US elections.

The adviser said the decision of the Americans was their personal matter, and Trump’s victory was a reflection of the trust they had put in him. However, he expressed surprise that PMLN leaders continued to meddle in US affairs and shared posts against Trump, despite having no direct involvement in the matter.

Saif accused the PMLN leadership of constantly seeking external support to hold onto power. He claimed PMLN leaders had placed hopes on Kamala Harris, but she was unable to provide the expected assistance.