PESHAWAR: Decrying the rising insecurity in the province, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the assassination of prominent religious scholar Maulana Mohammad Idrees and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved in his killing.
The resolution was moved by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) lawmaker Adnan Wazir, who said the House strongly condemned the “brutal assassination” of Maulana Idrees and urged the provincial government to ensure the prompt arrest of the perpetrators and take effective steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
Deputy Speaker Surayya Bibi presided over the session. After the introduction of two bills, the remaining agenda was suspended, and lawmakers debated the law and order situation and the killing of Maulana Idrees.
The JUIF members displayed photographs of the martyred cleric in the House, while lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches expressed anger over recurring incidents of violence and targeted killings.
Speaking on the floor, Adnan Khan said peace and law and order had repeatedly been debated in the assembly, jirgas had been convened, and committees formed, but no practical results had been achieved.
“The government’s writ is nowhere to be seen, neither in the country nor in the province,” he said, adding that authorities had confined themselves to speeches, announcements, and committees while ground realities continued to worsen.
“We are tired of carrying coffins, yet the killers have still not been brought to justice,” he remarked.Referring to recent violence in Bannu, Adnan Khan termed the incident a major question mark over the performance of security institutions.
He alleged that armed men carried out activities throughout the night without any effective response from authorities, despite the presence of security checkpoints in the city center.“After evening, the government’s writ disappears in Bannu,” he said, adding that elected representatives could demonstrate practical measures if entrusted with responsibilities.
Ruling party MPA Muhammad Sajjad said the entire nation, provincial government, and Pakhtun community were mourning the killing of Maulana Idrees and the Bannu incident.He said the issue of insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being treated as an ordinary police matter, consigned to cold storage.
“This is no longer merely a political, social, or religious issue; it has become a matter of survival for Pakhtuns and Pakhtun culture,” he said.He also criticized the assembly’s peace jirga, saying two people were allegedly picked up during the gathering, while its declarations had yet to be implemented.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf described terrorists as enemies of Pakistan and paid tribute to security forces and fallen personnel, including Captain Gul Faraz. He called for a joint strategy involving the federal government and armed forces to restore peace.
Provincial Minister Dr Amjad Khan described Maulana Idrees as a moderate and non-controversial figure who promoted peace, brotherhood, and unity.“Whoever speaks for peace or raises a voice against terrorism becomes a target,” he said, adding that several religious scholars had previously been assassinated.
He lamented that suspects in incidents in Islamabad were often arrested within hours, whereas killers of religious scholars in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued to evade justice.The minister rejected attempts to link Maulana Idrees’s assassination with Afghanistan, saying border security and counterterrorism remained the responsibility of state institutions.
JUIF legislator Ejaz Khan said the slain cleric always spoke for Islam, the state, and his people. He questioned the effectiveness of the Safe City Project and warned of protests if the killers were not arrested by May 14.Awami National Party parliamentary leader Arbab Usman questioned claims that terrorism had largely been eliminated after 2018, asking why insecurity was resurging.
