Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Saif, stated that the All Parties Conference (APC) was successfully conducted under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, despite the absence of certain political parties that chose to boycott the event.
He remarked that those political parties which boycotted the APC are, in reality, not interested in establishing peace. The APC was not convened for any political purpose, but solely to address the pressing need for peace in the province. “Those who boycotted the conference must clarify whether they stand with those striving to restore peace or with those spreading unrest,” he said.
Barrister Dr. Saif emphasised that bold decisions were made during the APC under the leadership of the Chief Minister. He further stated that individuals like Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and others who boycotted the conference lacked the courage to make such brave decisions, which is precisely why they opted to stay away. “Faisal Karim Kundi must understand that his absence made no difference,” he added.
He questioned the credibility of the boycotting parties, asking, “How can they now speak of peace and development in the province?” The APC, held under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, was a sincere effort by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government toward restoring peace.
Barrister Dr. Saif reiterated that the provincial government, under Chief Minister Gandapur’s leadership, is taking practical steps to ensure peace in the region. He urged opposition parties to support the government’s efforts in this regard, highlighting that terrorism is not an issue confined to a single party but a shared challenge requiring collective solutions.
He added that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is spending beyond its available resources to eliminate terrorism. However, the federal government is not showing seriousness in addressing this issue. Instead of empowering the provincial government, the federation is weakening it.
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Dr. Saif also criticised the federal government for deliberately withholding the province’s funds across various sectors, including counter-terrorism. He emphasised that such a sensitive and grave issue should not be politicised and urged the federal government to stop treating the province with neglect and instead strengthen it economically.
