Convening APC not a constitutional issue: KP governor

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday said that holding the all-parties conference (APC) was not a constitutional issue and anyone could convene it.

“We are holding the APC to discuss the law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and recommend measures for durable peace,” he said while speaking at a press conference.

The governor said that the law and order in the province particularly in Kurram and southern districts would be discussed in the APC being held at the Governor’s House today (Thursday).

Kundi said the multi-party moot would also deliberate about provincial rights.

The governor said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was facing the worst law and order and the government was busy staging marches towards Islamabad by using official resources.

Kundi said the situation in Kurram was still alarming. He added that the representatives of the political parties met members of the jirga in Kohat the other day but the chief minister did not participate despite being invited.

The governor argued that though he was aligned with Pakistan People’s Party, being as a governor he represented the entire province and cannot leave it at the mercy of miscreants.

Sixteen political parties have confirmed their participation in the APC to discuss and recommend solutions for durable peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The governor has time and again expressed concern over the law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and criticised the provincial government for its failure to improve the situation.

Serious efforts are needed to be made in coming days to restore peace in many parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly the southern districts, after most of the political powers in the province have expressed concern over lawlessness in the province.

Before the Kurram incident and loss of dozens of precious lives there, an increase in attacks on police, security forces and civilians was recorded in different parts of KP. The situation is worst in the southern districts of the province, especially Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions.

Ironically, both the governor and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur belong to Dera Ismail Khan that has witnessed the highest number of attacks in recent years. They claim to have taken measures for the improvement of law and order in Dera Ismail Khan but nothing has improved on the ground.