US drone strikes: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister seeks clear policy from PML-N

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Saturday made it clear that the PML-N-led Federal government would be held responsible for destruction in KP if it did not present a clear policy on US drone attacks. He was talking to newsmen after holding a meeting with Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at his residence here on Saturday. He was accompanied by Jamaat-i-Islami senior leaders Sirajul Haq and Professor Ibrahim.
Khattak said drones were being fired in Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and not in his province, ie KP. "Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Federal government to stop such acts. It is not a subject of a provincial government. Had there was PTI's government in the centre, the US would have not dared to launch these attacks on Pakistani soil," he added.
To a question, he said PML-N chief had the mandate to run the affairs of Pakistan, whereas the PTI was only responsible for KP. "However, after a consultation with our allied partners, the KP government will give an agenda, which will spell out ways to save KP from destruction, to the Federal government; and then it is hoped that the Federal government will give a clear policy on drone attacks," he added.
"We request Nawaz Sharif to draft the policy on drone attacks on priority basis while taking all stakeholders in to confidence and the PTI will fully support the federal government's policy that will bring peace in the region," he added. To another question, he said the US President Barrack Obama stance on drone attacks was irrelevant; the fact was such attacks were violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. "The US is attacking our land, hence its action is injustice," he added.
When asked what will be the PTI's future line of action if the Federal government does not come up with a policy on drone attacks, he said they would protest against it at all levels and "we assume that injustice being meted out to Pathans and KP is due to indifferent attitude of the Federal government." The KP CM said his province was going through enormous and complex challenges, which the KP government was determined to overcome. He showed determination to restore peace in the province, provide best educational and health facilities to the citizens of KP, end corruption in government departments and reduce poverty.
He said his government would endeavour to improve law and order situation in the province by strengthening law enforcing agencies. "We will end VIP culture in the province and present KP government as a role model of good governance for other provincial governments to follow," he added.
When asked about the composition of his cabinet, he said they would constitute a 15-member cabinet, as permitted in the 18th Amendment, which would work within the framework of the Constitution. "I firmly believe in distribution of power," he added. To another question, he said he held a meeting with the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) and the issue of low recovery of electricity dues was discussed. He disclosed that he directed the provincial members of the KP Assembly to ensure full recovery of dues from their areas. "The KP government is determined to ensure maximum recovery of Pesco dues; we are not responsible for what happened in the past," he added.
Meanwhile, KP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq condemned the recent drone attack and said they appealed to the Federal government to take notice of the situation. "We are determined to build a government in KP that will be based on good governance and set an example for others to follow," he added.