On Tuesday, Peshawar High court stopped the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to withdraw army from Malakand, Swat and Dir divisions. PHC’s chief justice, Dost Muhammad Khan, said that the army has been deployed in these areas for many years to restore peace and its withdrawal would create a vacuum. He added that the KPK government could face trouble if terrorists returned to the area.The PHC ordered the KPK government to consult with federal interior ministry and the army and to take them into confidence so that law and order situation remains intact in violence prone areas. Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervaiz Khattak had approved the gradual withdrawal of army from the Malakand Division. Pervaiz Khattak had said that in the initial stage, security forces will be withdrawn from Shangla and Buner districts by October. In the second phase the troops would be pulled out from Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir districts and other parts of the Malakand Division. The Chief Minister said the security forces have rendered numerous sacrifices in war against terror in the Malakand Division and the entire nation is proud of their heroes. He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government wants to resolve all issues through talks and it has been successful in maintaining the writ of the government. Pervaiz Khattak said PTI chief Imran Khan fully supported the All Parties Conference and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will cooperate with the Federation in this regard.
