Swat river tragedy: ANP demands registration of FIR against Gandapur
PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded registration of FIR against Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amin Gandapur over 'sheer negligence' regarding the River Swat tragedy.
ANP Central spokesperson Ihsanullah Khan expressed deep concern over the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tragic incident in Swat.
He claimed that despite holding power for twelve years, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has failed to fully restore the province's administrative machinery. This failure has become a major obstacle in resolving the basic problems of the people, causing immense hardships for the population, he said.
He said that during its tenure, the ANP provided financial and administrative autonomy to the province through the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the NFC Award. As a result, there was a substantial increase in the provincial budget, which enabled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to acquire ample resources for development and public welfare.
Unfortunately, he alleged, t the PTI government wasted these resources on mismanagement, corruption, and political theatrics instead of using them for the people's benefit. Consequently, the public has not received the benefits they rightfully deserved.
He further said that crucial institutions like Rescue 1122, established to protect lives and property, were also used by PTI for political activities. He said the recent Swat incident has once again exposed PTI's incompetence. He said ANP demands that the provincial government immediately review its policies, restore the administrative machinery, and use public resources transparently for the welfare of the people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Business Recorder
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Swat river tragedy: ANP demands registration of FIR against Gandapur
PESHAWAR: The Awami National Party (ANP) has demanded registration of FIR against Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amin Gandapur over 'sheer negligence' regarding the River Swat tragedy. ANP Central spokesperson Ihsanullah Khan expressed deep concern over the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tragic incident in Swat. He claimed that despite holding power for twelve years, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has failed to fully restore the province's administrative machinery. This failure has become a major obstacle in resolving the basic problems of the people, causing immense hardships for the population, he said. He said that during its tenure, the ANP provided financial and administrative autonomy to the province through the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the NFC Award. As a result, there was a substantial increase in the provincial budget, which enabled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to acquire ample resources for development and public welfare. Unfortunately, he alleged, t the PTI government wasted these resources on mismanagement, corruption, and political theatrics instead of using them for the people's benefit. Consequently, the public has not received the benefits they rightfully deserved. He further said that crucial institutions like Rescue 1122, established to protect lives and property, were also used by PTI for political activities. He said the recent Swat incident has once again exposed PTI's incompetence. He said ANP demands that the provincial government immediately review its policies, restore the administrative machinery, and use public resources transparently for the welfare of the people. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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In another incident, PTI MPA Hassan Malik (PP-81) was barred from attending the assembly until the current session is prorogued, following his act of hurling a copy of the budget speech at Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman. On June 24, the speaker gave a ruling stressing the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum: "I emphasise all members, regardless of their political affiliation, in order to preserve decorum, uphold the dignity of this august Assembly, and ensure that parliamentary proceedings can continue without disruption." "I shall take all the steps within the legal framework to maintain order and uphold dignity of this august House and its members," he further warned. The response came after Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar raised a point of order, defending protest as a constitutional right. 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In a joint press conference with suspended Punjab Assembly members, PTI legal counsel Salman Akram Raja, Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, and senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa condemned the systematic persecution of their party. "There is no Minus-Imran plan. The party hasn't even considered such a thing," Salman Akram Raja said. "For 78 years, we've been fed the illusion of democracy, when in reality, we've only seen authoritarian rule," he added, accusing the state of continuously installing "political proxies". Raja noted that PTI had engaged even with those "propped up on crutches", only to meet inertia. "Every time we met them, they said: 'We'll ask and let you know.' Even when we requested a meeting with our party founder, they again said they had to seek permission. They admitted they had no authority. So, what are we to negotiate with such powerlessness?" 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"We are fighting for the rights of the people of Pakistan." Salman Akram Raja said PTI's commitment remained undeterred. "Yesterday's decision has not weakened our commitment. We will restore the rights of the people," he declared. "This case isn't about PTI or the Sunni Ittehad Council alone — it belongs to every citizen." "We reject this verdict, and will continue to do so," he asserted. He accused the state of sidelining PTI from the February 8 general elections. "First, our electoral symbol was snatched. Then, our reserved seats were looted in the dark of night." "In Pakistan's entire legal history, there are only two rulings that went against tyranny. This was not one of them," he added. "Our opposition seats were distributed like spoils of war to other parties. The Constitution demands that reserved seats be proportionally allocated to parties winning general seats." "In this country, democracy has been treated like forbidden fruit," Raja said. 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