PESHAWAR - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Shah Farman, has said that durable peace in the region, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is the ultimate goal, which is being negotiated through a political process.
He condemned the bomb blasts in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, which took precious human lives and caused injuries to others. This, he sated, while interacting with the media at the premises of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, after visiting bed-to-bed of injured of the bomb blasts near Khan Raziq Police Station Qissa Khwani, Peshawar, on Sunday.
The minister reaffirmed his stand to negotiate durable peace for the people of the whole region through a political dialogue but he doubted that the process was being spoiled and the government would probe who were the beneficiaries for creating law and order situation in the region and playing with the human lives. He said, “If negotiation can be carried out inside Afghanistan where there was no ceasefire why cannot we go for negotiation which has been the clear stand of PTI and it was a one-point agenda for which the people of this province voted for PTI.” He said that the government had already directed to investigate into consecutive three bomb blasts.
He said, “In 1980s when a superpower invaded Afghanistan it had a direct bearing on our region and the region was experiencing the same situation again where the common citizens were being targeted.” He reminded the government recently freed Mula Brother to facilitate talks inside Afghanistan.
He said the APC mandated the federal government to negotiate peace through a political dialogue. The recent blasts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the direct fallout of FATA situation. He said that his government condemned the blasts and was perturbed by the activities creating hurdles in the negotiation and political process to find out a durable peace in the region.
He said, “What we are reaping today is exactly what we sowed in previous decade.” He lashed out at those who criticised the PTI government, adding that in their own government they used to be in the bunkers but now under PTI government they are roaming around openly and there is no threat to their lives. The difference between the previous government and the present government is that the leadership of previous government not only avoided to face the people when such blasts took place and the PTI top leadership is always with the people and visit the victims. He said that PTI is completely conscious to its responsibility but the peace process should be initiated by the federal government.
The people of this region are the direct victims of a prolonged warfare. The war affected this province, rendered its people victims and destroyed the economy of the province. The PTI wants to use negotiation as the only way out to steer the region out of present turmoil. He said that the youth of PTI are donating blood and are involved in the relief activities.
Earlier, he visited the injured, enquired about their health and directed the doctors to provide them all healthcare.