PESHAWAR; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has strongly asserted that KP is the province of its people and that no decisions regarding its affairs should be made without their consultation. In a video statement issued on Wednesday, he said, “Innocent civilians were martyred in Bajaur. This is our province, and decisions must not be imposed upon us without our input.”
His remarks followed an emergency meeting held to discuss the province’s deteriorating law and order situation, particularly in light of the recent violence in Bajaur. The meeting, chaired by CM Gandapur, was attended by the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Additional Chief Secretary, and other senior officials. Participants reviewed the security situation, and relevant authorities briefed the CM on ongoing developments.
Following the meeting, Gandapur issued a video statement in which he reiterated his government’s support for the decisions taken at the recent All Parties Conference (APC) regarding law and order. He said efforts were underway to implement those decisions at the government level.
Referring to the Bajaur incident, Gandapur called it a tragedy in which innocent lives were lost. He expressed concern that civilian casualties during anti-terror operations were causing public resentment and eroding trust between the people and the military. “Without public trust, we cannot win the war against terrorism,” he stressed.
He also acknowledged the sacrifices of security forces, stating that the martyrs of the armed forces are as dear to them as civilians. However, he criticized certain policies that, in his view, have led to those sacrifices being overlooked. He called for a reassessment of current counterterrorism strategies.
Gandapur announced that peace jirgas will be held across the merged tribal districts, with a grand jirga scheduled within the next ten days. These jirgas will include elected representatives and other key stakeholders to develop a collective approach and strategy to address the province’s security challenges. The recommendations and outcomes of these jirgas will be presented to national security officials to advocate for a policy review. “We want to eliminate terrorism, but this must be done with public trust and involvement,” he said.
He also raised concerns about operations conducted under “Action in Aid of Civil Power” and announced that the KP Assembly would reconvene on August 1 to deliberate on whether such measures are beneficial or harmful to the province.
Sending a strong message to the federal government and military establishment, the chief minister said, “We are with our people and will go to any extent for their rights. This is our land—imposing wrong decisions without our consent is unacceptable.”
He also issued a directive to all deputy commissioners, stating that no curfew or Section 144 should be enforced without prior approval from the provincial home department.
Earlier in the day, CM Gandapur chaired a separate meeting on the Bajaur incident. Participants expressed condolences to the families of both the civilians and security personnel who lost their lives. The chief minister announced Rs 10 million in compensation for each martyr and Rs 2.5 million for those injured, whether civilian or military.
