Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), in its report of first seven months of 2017, claimed sharp decline in terrorism activities and other incidents as compared to the last decade.
Advisor to Chief Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shujaat Ali Yousafzai believed that this decline in terror and other violent acts was due to government policies. Whereas ex-minister and ANP leader Mian Iftikhar said that the decline in terror acts was due to military action and changes in federal government policies, adding, “It doesn’t mean that terrorists were eliminated. Zar Ali Khan Afridi, an independent analyst and human rights defender in FATA endorsed Mian Iftikhar Hussain point of view, saying, “PTI government is in close terms with patrons of militant groups.”
The CTD reported that during the last 10 years, maximum terror incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported in 2009 were 927 but in first months of current calendar year only 90 were registered so far, thus there was 70 per cent decline in terrorism. It stated that 274 acts of terror were registered in 2016.
Along with terrorism, the kidnapping for ransom was considered a major source of financial support. In 2009, around 78 cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 16 in 2016. But in first seven months of current year only six kidnapping cases were registered and CTD claimed 97 per cent reduction in this sector compare to 2009. It stated that 647 acts of target killing were registered in 2013 and 72 in 2016 but so far 21 were registered in first seven months of this year, thus the CTD claiming 97 per cent decline.
Likewise the CTD claimed 95 per cent decline in extortion cases as compare to 344 cases registered in 2014, only 16 cases registered in 2017.
Shaukat Ali Yousafzai told this correspondent that on one hand terrorist dispersed and their dens were demolished during Zarb-e-Azb and the PTI government made comprehensive policies including independent and autonomous police force and coordination amongst all the law-enforcing and secret agencies. He said that due to such steps, now there existed peaceful atmosphere in all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain recalled that during ANP government, they have challenged the terrorists, therefore, terror acts were on the rise.
But now the PTI leaders having a soft corner for the militants, therefore, there was decline in violent acts, he remarked.
Zar Ali Khan while disagreeing with CTD report, diverted attentions towards recent acts of target killing in Dera Ismael Khan and terror acts in Parachanar and Quetta.
“As a result of military actions, the militants had dispersed but they still existed,” he remarked and diverted attentions towards PTI leaders’ friendly terms with the militants. In this connection, he said that PTI government bribed Maulana Sami-ul-Haq for the purpose who calls himself father of the Taliban.
