Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was incognizant regarding a discussion on a full-fledged military operation, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader AsadQaiser after his party vehemently opposed Azm-e-Istehkam — a new military operation aimed at rooting out militancy.
The PTI politician said such discussions take place in routine for wherever there are issues and strategies are also decided for it.
“But he [Gandapur] displayed incognizance regarding a full-fledged operation,” Qaiser revealed in an interview during Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’.According to the government, the decision regarding the operation was taken during the meeting of the Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan (NAP) where Gandapur represented KP.
The crucial huddle was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by chief ministers of all provinces and GilgitBaltistan, services chiefs, and chief secretaries of the provinces along with other senior civilian, military, and law enforcement agencies officers.
Qaiser said he spoke with the chief minister, who said no such matter was discussed there.The government Saturday had announced a fresh counter-terrorism operation, pledging to utilise the full strength of the country’s resources, including military, diplomatic, and legislative, to turn the heat up on militants.
The Central Apex Committee on NAP gave the approval for the operation following a significant surge in terrorist attacks in recent months resulting in scores of both civilian and security forces’ casualties.
Speaking about the operation, the PTI politician insisted that the KP chief minister mentioned the “routine discussion” of the meeting on the existing counter-terrorism actions, but “no discussion” about plans of a full-fledged operation happened.
On the other hand, Qaiser’s comments came in light of his party’s staunch opposition of the operation, as PTI’s Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan maintained that the legislature must be taken into confidence before the launch of any operation.
While speaking on the floor of the house a day earlier, Gohar said no matter where the operation is about to take place, the parliament should decide its parameters.
“The federal government should discuss this issue in the parliament before approving it. Even before, the military leadership has briefed the lawmakers. No Apex Committee is above this house,” said the PTI chief.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the opposition was “standing with the terrorists” following their opposition towards the operation.
