ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, will discuss several important issues at the upcoming Apex Committee meeting. He is expected to meet with top military officials, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, and other key security leaders.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called the meeting, which will include the Chief of Army Staff, the ISI chief, Intelligence Bureau officials, and provincial leaders. The main agenda will be to address the growing law and order situation, especially the increasing terrorist attacks across Pakistan.
Speaking to the media, Gandapur confirmed that he would attend the meeting. He clarified that although the meeting was initially expected to be held on Monday, it has now been scheduled for Tuesday.
When asked whether the November 24 protest march by PTI and its ongoing issues with the establishment would be discussed, Gandapur said he would avoid political topics. “We don’t need anyone’s permission for the protest march,” he added. However, he did mention that since the meeting would focus on the law and order situation and the National Action Plan, issues related to PTI and its leader Imran Khan would naturally come up. He stated that these issues had been discussed in previous meetings.
Gandapur acknowledged the ongoing tensions between PTI and the establishment, saying it was not good for anyone. “This situation is harmful to PTI, the country, and the institution,” he stated, urging that the issues should be resolved.
Regarding PTI’s leadership, he discussed the challenges faced by Imran Khan and his party. When asked about Khan’s harsh remarks towards the military and its leadership, Gandapur initially denied any aggressive tone. But when reminded of Khan’s public statements, he explained that when someone is held in jail for such a long time, they may respond angrily.
The Chief Minister also voiced concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country. He praised the sacrifices of the army and other law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism. “We honor and respect their sacrifices for the country and its people,” Gandapur said.
The Apex Committee will be briefed on the latest security developments. In recent months, terrorist activities have surged, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Reports indicate that in October alone, there were 48 terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 100 people.
Given the security concerns, PTI’s planned protest march to Islamabad on November 24 has become a major topic of interest for security agencies. The situation is expected to be thoroughly discussed by the top civil-military leadership at the Apex Committee meeting.
