According to various apolitical and independent assessments or polls, the performance of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf in Khyber Pakhtukhwa has remained unsatisfactory. They have also witnessed failures of the Pervez Khattak government; especially no arrangement has been made to build the capacity of civilian administration that may replace the army especially in the areas where the military had to conduct operations, since 2009. Army has done an exemplary job, but the question is whether the civilians are ready to take over? Secondly, has the KP government any deradicalisation plan to take out the roots of terrorism?

Yes, corruption is far less than the levels set by the ANP, PPP and the holy fathers of the MMA; Peshawar city has been cleared of encroachments; a good law for Local Bodies has been legislated; Police Department has been given good resources and is quite active; protocol does not become a nuisance; cooperation with the Armed Forces over the National Action Plan has been good; and the waste disposal mechanism has been streamlined.

However, all is not well. Mega corruption is controlled but then there aren’t any mega projects in hand; corruption in police and revenue departments is there contrary to claims. No university or major hospital for tertiary treatment has been built. There are multiple centres of power and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is at times defied. The divisions within the PTI are affecting the performance of the provincial government. Accountability Commission and ACE are practically locked out. The MDs of Bank of Khyber and PEDO have spoken out against corruption and nepotism; Shakil Durrani has already resigned. For three years 40 percent of the development budget has lapsed.

The 13-point agenda of change and development which Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman, spelled out on July 25 gives hope for the future prospects of the party performance as well as improvement in the lives of people of the province. This means Imran Khan still retains reasonable degree of popularity and the spirit to change the lot of the people. If he had not diverted most of his time to politics of agitation and dharnas and had concentrated of KP to show it as a model to Punjab, then he could have created differences of greater degree as compared to other provinces. He has wasted time on agitation and eroded his popularity.

The PTI government seems indifferent to terrorism, probably keeping in mind that the army is handling it independently and effectively. What is the role of K-P government in resettling and rehabilitating the IDPs from Waziristan?

ESCHMALL SARDAR,

Peshawar, July 26.