Unanimous resolution passed: KP Assembly opposes likely operation in Khyber, Bannu

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday passed a unanimous resolution against the likely operation in Khyber and Bannu districts and called for talks to resolve the issues.

Speaker Babar Saleem Swati chaired the assembly session. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Inaf (PTI) Member Provincial Assembly from Khyber tribal district, Abdul Ghani, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl lawmaker from Bannu, Adnan Wazir, moved a joint resolution.

The resolution read that preparations were being made for launching an operation in the Tirah valley of the Khyber district and the Janikhel and Bakakhel area of the Bannu districts. It said the operation would be a great injustice to the people living there. The lawmakers said in the resolution that the operation was no solution to any issue. They said several operations were launched in the past and they questioned the results. The resolution called for dialogue to find a solution to the issue instead of launching any operation.

The resolution said this assembly through a resolution recommended to the KP government to ask the federal government to avoid the operation in Tirah Valley of the Khyber district and Janikhel and Bakakhel areas of Bannu so that the people were not displaced. The speaker asked if the past operations had proved fruitful. MPA Abdul Ghani said there had been operations in the tribal areas for the last 20 years. “How the terrorists are entering the land when there is strong border management and strict security measures,” asked the PTI legislator. He said the tribesmen were neither ready to offer any sacrifice, nor willing to become DPs [displaced persons],” he declared.

The speaker said there should be a debate in the KP Assembly on the issue. He said a special committee would be constituted on the issue next week. “The recommendations of the committee would be submitted to the provincial and federal governments,” he announced.

The assembly also approved the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Amendment Bill 2024” introducing changes to the governance of public sector universities in the province.

The bill, presented by the Minister for Higher Education, Meena Khan, was passed by the assembly with a majority vote.

The chief minister will now serve as the chancellor of all public sector universities, replacing the governor. He will have the authority to appoint vice-chancellors.