Omar Ayub Khan, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly  and senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), strongly criticized the government's focus  on eliminating PTI instead of addressing the escalating terrorism crisis in Pakistan.   While talkifgn to media persons, Khan pointed out the increasing rate of terrorist attacks,  especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which have led to numerous casualties among young  civilian soldiers and officers.

Khan expressed concern over the lack of accountability from intelligence agencies, questioning why these agencies are not taking decisive action against terrorists.   He argued that, instead of confronting the growing terrorist threat, security forces were focusing their attention on PTI workers, raiding their homes, and forcibly disappearing them.  He referred to this as a disturbing trend, which he believes is undermining the country's stability.

Khan further emphasized the distress caused by the issue of missing persons, claiming it was shaking the foundations of the nation.  Additionally, Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, condemned the tragic martyrdom of Maulana Hamidul Haq and his colleagues in the recent explosion at Jamia Haqqania Akora Khattak. In his message, Imran Khan expressed his grief over the loss of life and called for patience for the grieving families. 

He linked the resurgence of terrorism to the political instability following the regime change in Pakistan, stressing that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already sacrificed a lot in the fight against terrorism. Khan warned that the poor policies of the current government had allowed terrorism to once again flourish, causing daily explosions and loss of life.  Meanwhile, Khan voiced support for the recent peace march in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asserting that true peace would only be achieved when the people of Pakistan actively fought to protect their rights.

He called for the nation to come together to confront the growing security challenges.  Khan also raised the issue of water scarcity, particularly in Sindh, which is facing a severe drought. He supported the people of Sindh in their demand to protect their water rights, urging for fair distribution of water resources across all provinces. Khan expressed concern over the construction of new canal projects in Sindh without the consent of the province's legitimate representatives.

He vowed to defend Sindh’s rights at all levels, emphasizing that the distribution of water resources should be decided through mutual consent between all provinces.  On the broader issue of governance, Khan criticized the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council), calling it an unconstitutional body. He questioned its purpose, stating that while it was intended to bring foreign investment to Pakistan, it had failed to do so.

Instead, the SIFC had placed several government departments under military control, further damaging the already weakened state system.  Khan concluded by stressing the importance of returning institutions to their constitutional roles and establishing a government that enjoys public support. He warned that, without this, Pakistan would continue to face mounting crises and instability.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)