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Army, FC to man three KPK jails
June 29, 2012
Three central jails in the KPK are to be handed over to PakistanArmy for security. In this regard, a high-level security forces delegation hasjust visited the Central JailHaripur and Central Jail DeraIsmail Khan. The situation of Central Jail Peshawar was extensively discussed during a meeting between the Corps Commander Peshawar, the chief minister and the governor recently. Sources told Pulse that the federal government has approved the provincial government’s request to give three central prisons to the security forces. After the terror incident in BannuJail, the provincial government had requested the federal government to hand the three main central jails including Peshawar, DeraIsamil Khan and Haripur central jailsover to the paramilitary forces or the army.
According to sources, one platoon of army and a contingent of FC will be deployedin all the three jails. The visit of the high-level officials of security forces to Haripur jail was one of its series while in the coming week it is hoped that they will also visit the Central Jail Peshawar to chalk out a security plan. The KPK government and high-ups of law-enforcement agencies had been expressing apprehensions that the central jails in the province, particularly in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan and Haripur, may be the target of militants as has been seen in the BannuCentral Jail.
KPK is the hub of almost all types of terroractivities, including suicide blasts at police check posts, security forces convoys, vehicles, their check posts and CID offices, particularly the ISI center in the cantonment. Furthermore, everyone knows that a number of high-value militants are also imprisoned in one or the other jail of the province and it will not be a surprise that their fellows will try to secure their release. This phenomenon has already been witnessed by the KPK government in the Bannu jail where hundreds of armed men got their colleagues released. As for the Central Jail Peshawar, it has also become a clear target of the supporters or opponents of ShakeelAfridi who is serving his 33-year jail term. His presence in the jail poses a big threat to the security officials and the provincial government because Americans want to secure his release by all means. Besides, militant groups, whether the TTP or MangalBaghgroup, can make an attempt on his life as we have experienced in the suicide attacks on some of their opponent civilians.
Meanwhile, PTI KPK chapter seems clearly divided into two groups for the provincial presidential election. The elections are due by the end of June or in July. Two panels, one led by AsadQaiserand the other by PervaizKhattak, are in the field. Some leaders are active to postpone the election but party chairman Imran Khan is not ready to do so. According to party sources, there will be one-to-one contest between AsadQaiser and PervaizKhattak. Saad Abdullah has joined AsadQaiser panel who is the founder member of the party and has remained provincial secretary information twice in past. It has been learnt that there will be a direct contest for the slot of provincial general secretary ship among FarooqHoti, the son of PTI central senior vice president KhawajaMuhamed Khan Hoti, journalist turned politician ShaukatYousafzai and Saad Abdullah. It is likely that in the next few days some important personality from Hazara will be appointed in the AsadQaiser panel. According to sources, AsadQaisers’s position is strong enough in 17 districts out of the total 25 districts of the province. However, atough tussle is expected between the two groups in Abbottabad, Mardan, Nowshehra, Charsadda and the remaining four districts.
In 19 districts of the three regions all the ex-district presidents along with their cabinet have announced their support to AsadQaiser panel. Though some party leaders are striving to get the elections postponed, Imran Khan has announced that elections will be held in any circumstances without delay. The PTI is not like other parties which have roots in the masses since long and almost all main political parties including PPP, PML’s different factions, ANP, JI, JUI and others have remained in power not only in provincial setup, but also in the center. The PTI leadership’s hands are not stained with corruption or any other power game tactics. The general public has been attracted by the young leadership of Imran Khan who had won world cup for Pakistan and has also been a social worker since long.
During recent months a number of leaders from different parties like IftikharJhagra, PervaizKhattak, KhwajaMuhamed Khan Hoti and others in the KPK have joined the PTI which not only strengthened the party position, but also caused differences in the party leadership. The present differences in the provincial leadership is also is a manifestation of the old and the new leaders tussle which is not avoidable because ex-president AsadQaiser has been sticking to the party for the last 17 years and has worked sincerely and wholeheartily for the promotion of party cause. So far as PervaizKhattak and others are concerned, they have remained the part and parcel of PPP and have enjoyed ministerial post in different governments. PervaizKhattak was provincial minister in the HaiderHoti government only a few months ago.
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