KP Apex Committee
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has indicated plans to convene a meeting of the provincial Apex Committee, the top security body, within the next two days following a jirga in Bannu presenting their demands.
According to sources speaking to Geo News early Tuesday, the chief minister aims to bring the jirga’s demands before the Apex Committee shortly after a recent incident at the Bannu ‘peace march’ where gunfire resulted in one death and multiple injuries.
The jirga delegation, which presented a 10-point agenda to Gandapur during a meeting at the CM House, has voiced opposition to the federal government’s anti-terrorism campaign ‘Azm-e-Istehkam.’
Those familiar with the meeting revealed that the jirga’s demands included the dismantling of armed groups, empowering police with night patrolling duties, allowing the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) to conduct search operations and take action against terrorists rather than relying on security forces, and presenting missing persons before the courts.
Jirga chief Nasir Khan informed journalists that despite the violent incident, the Bannu sit-in would continue, and that the KP chief minister had attentively listened to all their demands. “Ali Amin Gandapur will visit Bannu on Friday.
The chief minister has also stated that he will call a meeting of the Apex Committee, with five members of the jirga participating in the meeting,” Khan said.
The protest in Bannu on July 19, which resulted in people being fired upon, led the provincial government to form a body to investigate the incident.
However, the federal government has declared that it will not accept the investigation’s findings, claiming that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) supporters were armed and used their weapons during the rally, contributing to the chaos.
At a press conference on Monday, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that the Bannu marchers had raised anti-army slogans and thrown stones at security personnel.
During his briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry criticized the role of social media following the march and played footage showing armed marchers attacking an under-construction wall of the Bannu cantonment.
“Some armed protesters resorted to gunfire, resulting in injuries. The army’s response was as per the SOP and according to orders,” Lt Gen Chaudhry explained.
The evolving situation underscores the tension between local demands for autonomy and security, and the federal government’s approach to counter-terrorism and law enforcement, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the region.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
