Report: ANI Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD– Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Spokesperson and MNA Shazia Marri, along with Senator Quratul Ain Marri, Fatehullah Khan, MNA, and PPP leader Akhunzada Chattan, addressed the situation of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Parliament House on Friday.
Shazia Marri said innocent people were being targeted in terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that no one could feel safe as attacks could occur at any time. She noted that even urban centres such as Peshawar were no longer considered safe.
She said the deteriorating security situation in tribal areas required serious attention, emphasising that children, women and families lived in these areas and many had lost their homes due to terrorism. She warned that the effects of terrorism could spread to other parts of the country if the situation was not addressed effectively.
“Terrorism is not an excuse but a bitter reality of Pakistan,” Marri said, adding that the country had been fighting terrorism for decades and had achieved significant successes in this struggle.
However, she criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that adequate efforts had not been made to address terrorism during its 13 years in power. She questioned what concrete measures had been taken to eliminate terrorism and improve the security situation in the province.
Marri also referred to the additional one per cent share allocated to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the National Finance Commission (NFC) arrangement for counterterrorism efforts. She said a special fund had been allocated to support people affected by terrorism and stressed the need to ensure that affected citizens received appropriate assistance.
Highlighting the provincial government's responsibilities, she said the chief minister's primary duty was to serve the people of the province. Education, healthcare, infrastructure and access to electricity and water, she added, were among the government's fundamental responsibilities.
She further said poor families often lacked the financial resources to hire lawyers and called for attention to their problems. According to the figures she cited, 3,787 people had been martyred in terrorist incidents during a one-year period, while attacks continued to occur frequently across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Marri also criticised the chief minister's visits to other provinces amid the deteriorating security situation at home. She said priority should be given to addressing security concerns in Malakand Division, Bajaur and Peshawar before engaging in other political activities.
She urged the provincial leadership to focus on protecting citizens, particularly the people of Peshawar, and fulfil its constitutional and administrative responsibilities.
