Interim KP govt orders major reshuffle after Peshawar bombing

• Provincial govt changes chief secretary, police chief
• Army chief visits Haroon Bilour’s family, offers condolences on martyrdom 

PESHAWAR: After the Peshawar blast that killed Awami National Party (ANP) leader Barrister Haroon Bilour and 22 others, the interim Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Thursday decided to change the provincial chief secretary (CS) and inspector general of police (IGP).

Earlier in the day, a high-level security meeting between Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and interim Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk was also held.

The COAS and interim PM had reached Peshawar separately earlier for the meeting.

After his arrival in the provincial capital, the COAS visited the martyred candidate’s family and extended his condolences.

Moreover, the premier and Interim Interior Minister Azam Khan met with KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and discussed issues pertaining to the province’s law and order situation.

Earlier on July 9, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) had briefed the Senate Committee on Interior about threats to the leaders of the political parties especially those of the ANP.

Politicians facing security threats included the former KP chief ministers and ANP’s Ameer Haider Hoti.

The home department had directed the authorities concerned to provide security to the candidates of the PPP and ANP during their election campaigns.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raza Khan had said that the attack on an electoral candidate, despite the ECP’s directions to provide security, was a result of the security institutions’ negligence.