Tag: KP

  • KP govt prohibits officials from participating in Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga

    KP govt prohibits officials from participating in Pashtoon Qaumi Jirga

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Tuesday prohibited its officials and employees from participating in the three-day Pahstoon Qaumi Jirga hosted by the Pahtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) on October 11.

    On Sunday, citing security threats and national peace, the federal government declared the PTM a “proscribed organisation” and imposed a ban on it under section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATC).

    Chief Secretary KP Today issued a notification which noted: “Employees of all government departments/attached departments/police/autonomous and semi-autonomous public sector institutions and their employees are informed, and stand informed, that participation, overt or covert, physically, financially or otherwise in any programme or activity of a proscribed organisation is unlawful and shall be acted against under the law.”

    The notification further added, “General public, including all segments of society are informed, and stand informed, that participation, overt or covert, physically, financially or otherwise in any programme or activity of a proscribed organisation is unlawful and will make them liable to lawful action.”

    Meanwhile, Khyber Deputy Commissioner (DC) Captain (retd) Sanaullah Khan issued an order enforcing Section 144 in the district for a period of 30 days, effective from October 9 to November 7.

  • PTI invites India’s foreign minister to join protest in Islamabad

    PTI invites India’s foreign minister to join protest in Islamabad

    Information Adviser to Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has invited Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests during his visit to Islamabad.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Saif said that Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is coming to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, and PTI wished him to address their so-called “peaceful arrest”, leaving host Muhammad Junaid momentarily speechless.

    Responding to Pakistan’s interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s request for PTI to postpone their protest as the SCO summit draws near, he said, “India buhat bari jamhooriyat ka dawaa krtay hain, kiya ap un kay Foreign Minister ko yeh dikha rahay hain kay government nay protest ko cancel kr diya.”

    Commenting on the deployment of Pakistan Army in the federal capital, he stated, “The army is deployed over security concerns for the SCO summit, and it has nothing to do with the PTI protest.”

    “Pakistan’s constitution grants us the right to protest anywhere in the country,” he concluded.

    Meanwhile, Advocate Salman Akram Raja, on his X (formerly Twitter) account, claimed that he is distancing himself and PTI from Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif’s statement about his invitation to the Indian Foreign Minister.

    He noted, “If Barrister Saif has said what’s been attributed to him, I dissociate myself and PTI from his statement. PTI’s struggle for democratic values and an independent judiciary is our domestic calling. We expect all those who uphold human rights to support us, not oppressive regimes.”

  • Protestors reject military operations in Swat

    Protestors reject military operations in Swat

    A large gathering appeared at Friday’s rally organised by the Swat Qaumi Jirga at Nishat Chowk, Mingora, against terrorism and military operations in the region.

    The protestors maintained that acts of terrorism in the region were “state-sponsored and artificial” and warned that Swat’s residents would take matters into their hand if the state didn’t wipe out terrorism, Dawn News reported.

    A protestor holding a white flag in his hand stated, “We are fed up with these fabricated terrorism projects. We demand peace and development initiatives on Pashtun soil. Those who devise these plans must know that such tactics can no longer fool the Pakhtun nation.”

    Citing the September 21 attack on diplomats at Malam Jabba region, a speaker said, “Swat residents are known for their hospitality. Those foreign dignitaries were our guests, but unfortunately, some elements, who are opposed to Swat’s progress, orchestrated the bomb blast on their convoy,”

    On Friday, veteran journalist Azaz Syed, on the Youtube channel ‘Talk SHOCK’, revealed that the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce hadn’t informed the Foreign Ministry of the diplomat’s visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

  • Clashes continue: What is happening in Kurram?

    Clashes continue: What is happening in Kurram?

    The local administration and grand jirga of Kurram district have not yet succeeded in putting an end to the on-going clashes that erupted between rival tribes of Bushehra and Ahmadzai following the construction of trenches on disputed land.

    The Nation reported that according to Kurram police officials, rival tribes exchanged fire on Tuesday at different parts of the tribal district, including Balashkhel, Khaar Kali, Trimanal, Baghki, Maqbal, and Kanj Alizai.

    When the matter was resolved, the brief pause was interrupted by a landmine explosion, followed by another phase of gunfire in Bushehra, which was then brought under control. The clashes, however, began in Upper and Lower Kurram.

    According to BBC Urdu, 15 individuals have lost their lives so far, from both Shia and Sunni sects, over dispute of land.

    Former Senator and tribal leader Sajid Turi claimed that grand jirga tried to resolve the dispute, but it ended in vain.

    Lambasting the incumbent government, he stated that in July, many jirga’s took place but none resolved the disputes between tribals because of government’s lack of interest and support.

    Previously, rival tribes clashed in the Kurram district on August 2, 2024, which resulted in 46 deaths and nearly 200 injuries. These clashes were also triggered by a land dispute.

  • ‘He’s acting like the CM of Afghanistan’: KP Governor criticises Gandapur

    ‘He’s acting like the CM of Afghanistan’: KP Governor criticises Gandapur

    Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi criticised KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for defending Afghan diplomats and their disrespect of the national anthem yesterday.

    “He is acting like the chief minister of a province of Afghanistan rather than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said the PPP affiliated Governor.

    On Tuesday, intense criticism was directed towards Afghan Acting Consul General Muhib Ullah Shakil and his aide when they refused to stand up for Pakistan’s national anthem, defying diplomatic norms, at the National Rehmat-ul-Lil-Aalamin (PBUH) Conference in Peshawar.

    Afghan Consulate Peshawar later clarified that the gentlemen did not stand up for the anthem due to the “music in them.”

    Gandapur later defended the diplomat, saying, “There was no disrespect intended, and they explained why they didn’t stand up for the national anthem.”

    Governor KP, while speaking on the Geo News programme last night, recalled, “ I spoke positively with the CM KP Gandapur, but he took advantage of that.”

    “I am sitting on a constitutional position, I will not allow anything against the constitution, but if anyone works for the peace and development of the province, I will support him,” said Kundi.

    He also emphasised that states talk to other states rather than a provincial chief minister.

  • KP govt urges centre to consult it before launching Azm-i-Istehkam

    KP govt urges centre to consult it before launching Azm-i-Istehkam

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has urged the federal government to consult with the KP provincial assembly before launching operation Azm-i-Istehkam.

    In a meeting at KP House in Islamabad, the cabinet decided to share a provincial assembly resolution with the federal government regarding counter-terrorism operations approved on July 19.

    The resolution read that proceeding without provincial consent could affect the offensive operation’s success and lead to negative outcomes for which the federal government would be responsible.

    The cabinet also certified the transfer of ownership of the Cedar Golf Course property from Swat’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) to the sports and tourism department.

    A cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur also granted aid to registered press clubs and bar councils.

  • Government allocates Rs 20 billion for Azm-e-Istehkam

    Government allocates Rs 20 billion for Azm-e-Istehkam

    The incumbent federal government has approved Rs 20 billion special allocation for the Azme-e-Istehkam operation during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to combat terrorism and extremism.

    The meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, allocated Rs 1.95 billion to Frontier Corp (FC) Balochistan for security expenses of the Reko Diq project and Rs 276.5 million to Frontier Corp Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for project implementation Letters (PILs) out of Rs 2.23 billion.

    Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, initiated by the Pakistan Army, is the seventh operation since the 2000s. It was followed by Rad-ul-Fasad in 2017.

    The cabinet also approved Rs 100,000 sugar export at the request of Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain.

  • ‘Low chance of PTI Islamabad rally’: Atta Tarar

    ‘Low chance of PTI Islamabad rally’: Atta Tarar

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has responded to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat’s claim of holding a rally on August 22 in Islamabad, saying that there are low chances that the opposition will be granted permission for the rally.

    Talking on Geo News’ ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Tarar stated, “Considering their violent track record, I don’t think they will be allowed to rally in the federal capital.”

    Tarar also blamed PTI for not holding a peaceful protest, citing the context of the May 9 riots. He added, “One has to prove that they are peaceful.”

    “They also came here when Pervaiz Khattak was Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with heavy machinery aiming to remove obstacles,” the minister concluded.

    Earlier, Marwat said, ‘’We will show the High Court’s permission if the police file a case against us after the August 22 power show.”

  • First case of monkeypox appears in Pakistan

    First case of monkeypox appears in Pakistan

    One day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, Pakistan yesterday reported this year’s first case of the virus diagnosed in a man from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the patient recently returned from Saudi Arabia.

    Consequently, the health ministry has ordered the Border Health Services to strictly monitor all entry points.

    In the past year, Pakistan has confirmed nine cases of Mpox, all among travellers returning from the Middle East and other countries.

    WHO officials confirmed the first infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden, linking it to a growing outbreak in Africa.

    There have been 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths, mainly among children, in Congo since the current outbreak began in January 2023.

  • Pakistan military plans to acquire nearly 4,000 kanals of land in Haripur for ‘defence purposes’

    Pakistan military plans to acquire nearly 4,000 kanals of land in Haripur for ‘defence purposes’

    Geo Fact Check has reported that an official letter, circulating on social media since last month, claiming that the Pakistan Army intends to acquire nearly 4,000 Kanals of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is indeed authentic.

    The Military Estate Officer in Abbottabad Cantt wrote the letter to the deputy commissioner (DC) in Haripur district, KP.

    The letter read, “It is apprised that the Army authorities intend to acquire a chunk of land measuring 3,481 kanals and 17 marlas situated at village Kenthla and Kot Jandan, tehsil Khanpur, district Haripur for defence purposes.”

    Two government officials, including the additional Assistant Commissioner of revenue in Haripur, Ijaz Khan Jadoon, have confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Geo Fact Check.

    “The complete process of [land] acquisition will take six to 12 months,” stated Ijaz, adding that the land was located behind Islamabad’s Margalla hills.