PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, in a special session convened at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, asked the federal government to end the conflict with Afghanistan through diplomatic channels and reopen all trade routes on the Pak-Afghan border forthwith.
The rare session was chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. It was scheduled for 3:00pm but started two hours late.
Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Awami National Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians, boycotted the session, arguing that there was no need to hold it at a public venue when a proper provincial assembly building was available. However, lawmakers of the Pakistan Peoples Party attended the session.
Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam and almost all cabinet members and ruling party MPAs were present.
In a joint resolution, ruling party lawmakers stated that as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shares a long border with neighbouring Afghanistan, the ongoing tension and conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan have adversely affected the social, economic and daily lives of the people of the province. The resolution demanded that the federal government remove the trust deficit with neighbouring countries and resolve all issues through dialogue and diplomatic channels, including reopening trade routes on the Pak-Afghan border. The resolution also asked the Afghan Taliban to discourage terrorist groups on its soil involved in activities inside Pakistan.
In another resolution, PTI MPAs expressed concern over the recent controversy arising from inter-high court transfers, particularly at the Islamabad High Court, which has raised constitutional questions about the independence of the judiciary and the security of judges’ tenure under Article 200 of the Constitution of Pakistan.
In a separate resolution, the assembly members took serious note of skyrocketing prices of daily commodities, including the recent increase in petroleum product prices.
The lawmakers demanded that the federal government take practical steps to control inflation, reduce petroleum prices and provide relief and a special package to consumers.
In another resolution, the assembly members condemned airstrikes by the US and Israel in Iran that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with other high officials and innocent people, including schoolchildren.
The resolution lauded Pakistan’s efforts and peace talks to end the Middle East crisis. It also asked the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to play a role in ending the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel, and to help and compensate war-affected people in Iran.
Ruling party MPAs also tabled and passed resolutions seeking the release of the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and his spouse Bushra Bibi, stating that they had been held in solitary confinement for the past six months, without access to lawyers, party leadership or close relatives in Adiala jail. PTI members said that under the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the trial of PTI founder and his wife must begin forthwith, as they were jailed on ‘false and baseless charges’.
The resolution also demanded proper medical treatment and facilities for Imran Khan and his spouse outside jail.
In his remarks, the speaker said that holding the provincial assembly session at a public venue was meant to bridge the gap between the people and their elected representatives, allowing the general public to witness the role of their representatives during the session.
However, the local administration had closed all markets and bazaars adjacent to the stadium in Peshawar, drawing criticism from traders and the general public.
Opposition parties accused the PTI-led government of using public funds and state machinery for political purposes and termed the assembly session at the cricket stadium a political gathering of the ruling party.
