Afridi calls for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s position to be considered in counterterrorism policy — Dawn
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi called on Pakistan’s federal government to cooperate more closely with the provincial authorities on security matters and take local realities into account when shaping counterterrorism policy. He made the statement in the city of Dera Ismail Khan while visiting those affected by the explosion in Darazinda, Dawn reports.
Demands to the federal authorities
According to Afridi, an explosion near police and customs checkpoints in Darazinda the previous day killed more than 12 people, including rescue service workers. He said that provincial residents, police officers and military personnel were suffering from violence, while regional authorities had previously warned of a deteriorating security situation.
The chief minister said that in the previous financial year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government additionally allocated 35 billion Pakistani rupees to the police to maintain peace and security. According to him, the province also made payments to federal agencies for modern weapons, equipment and armored personnel carriers, but the necessary equipment has still not been delivered.
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Afridi demanded that the federal government hand over armored personnel carriers to the province without delay. He stressed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents should be involved in decision-making on peace and security, and that policies developed “behind closed doors” were unacceptable to his government.
Visit to the wounded and burial of the victims
In Dera Ismail Khan, Afridi met with his predecessor Ali Amin Gandapur. Together, they visited a hospital where people wounded in the explosion are being treated. Afridi also stated that anyone who takes up arms against Pakistan is a terrorist, and expressed concern about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to him, the families of those killed in terrorist attacks will receive assistance provided for by the authorities.
Meanwhile, customs officer Farman Khan, who was killed in a suicide attack in Dera Ismail Khan, was buried in the Lakki Marwat district. Funeral prayers for the victims were held at the Ejaz Shaheed police complex. The dead also included soldier Osama and Rescue 1122 employees Imtiaz and Sharifullah.
