ALL Parties Conference (APC) called by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor¡ Faisal Karim Kundi¡ has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the province, blaming both the federal and provincial governments for their failure to maintain law and order. In a statement, the APC highlighted that more than 70 security personnel were martyred last month alone, and over 200 lives were lost due to sectarian clashes in Kurram.
The APC was a timely move to draw attention towards the fast-deteriorating security situation in the province and lack of a coherent strategy to address the challenge because of political polarization and opposition by political parties to a comprehensive action against terrorist outfits and their backers. The participants of the APC expressed serious concern over the security environment in the province but regrettably they made no worthwhile suggestion on how to address the problem and save lives and properties of the people. It is all the more regrettable that the ruling party of the province chose not to attend the conference and instead it is again focusing on politics of protests as highlighted by its announcement to hold a grand gathering in Peshawar and start a civil disobedience movement if the party’s demands about release of political prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the ‘violent’ crackdown on PTI supporters during the May 9, 2023 protests and the November 26 crackdown on PTI protesters were not met by December 14. Political interests and strategies apart, the provincial government has a responsibility towards people of the province and it should concentrate on governance. There was no justification to stay away from the APC as it was officially organized by the Governor of the province and its aim was to crystallize the issue of security threats and how effectively to counter them. The APC has made a number of political demands and they should also be considered dispassionately by the federal and the provincial governments as they can help provide a salutary environment for sustainable peace and security in the province. We also hope that, as pointed out by the APC, the provincial government will bring the issue of security to the floor of the KP Assembly and formulate a comprehensive strategy based on the input of the elected leadership. Political ownership and strong coordination between the federal and provincial governments are a must for the success of counter-terrorism campaign.
