IN a positive development, the Federal Government has decided to participate in the All Parties Conference (APC) being convened by the KP Government to mull over proposals for restoration of law and order in the province.
The PTI decided to convene a Peace Jirga in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on November 12 and approached the Federal Government with the request to attend the moot and Federal Minister Amir Muqam announced the Centre will do so.
We have all along been emphasizing in these columns that there should be close coordination between the federal and provincial governments in addressing the challenge of terrorism and extremism. The nature of the threat makes it necessary for all governments and institutions to coordinate their strategies and actions to root out the menace that takes almost daily lives besides significant impact on the economic activities. The response of the Federal Government assumes special relevance as in the past KP Government as well as the PTI as a party declined invitations to attend such APCs convened by the Centre and its institutions. This is despite the fact that no one stands to gain from chaos and lawlessness and all parties claim to champion the cause of peace. Fortunately, there is a realization among all stakeholders that the security situation both in KP and Balochistan has reached a dangerous point and no single party can offer a solution, therefore, collective wisdom has the potential to help address the challenge. There should be zero tolerance for those whose hands are stained with the blood of people of Pakistan. The PTI has claimed the objective of the Jirga was to forge a joint struggle for restoration of peace in the province and we hope this objective will have preference over political agendas of some parties, who have no clear position on issues of TTP and terrorist activities carried out in Pakistan by Afghanistan-based banned outfits. Some parties also have lopsided views as far as deportation of all Afghans living illegally in Pakistan. Their leaders are shy of speaking truth for the sake of their personal commercial interests. Hopefully, all parties will speak for Pakistan.
