Dera Ismail Khan (HRNW)- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has called on the federal government to provide the province with armoured personnel carriers (APCs), saying effective efforts against terrorism require greater coordination and the involvement of the people of KP.
Speaking at a press conference at the residence of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan, Afridi condemned the recent terrorist attack in the Darazinda area and said anyone who takes up arms against Pakistan is a terrorist. The Darazinda blast at the Aman Mela joint checkpost killed 12 people and injured 35 others, according to police and government reports.
Afridi said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and security personnel were continuing to suffer casualties in the fight against terrorism. He said the provincial government had allocated Rs35 billion to the police to support efforts to maintain peace and strengthen security.
The chief minister alleged that APCs requested by the provincial government had not been provided despite payment having been made. He called on the federal government to hand over the vehicles, saying they were needed for security operations in the province.
Afridi also stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through what he described as “closed-door” policies and said the people of KP should be taken into confidence in decisions concerning terrorism and regional security.
He said the provincial government remained committed to combating terrorism and announced that those killed during the current wave of terrorist incidents would receive a martyr compensation package.
The chief minister also raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, saying the scale of terrorism had created serious challenges for both provinces.
Earlier, Afridi visited the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan to meet people injured in the Darazinda attack and inquire about their medical treatment.
The remarks came amid a recent increase in militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Darazinda bombing and other attacks against civilians and security personnel.
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