PESHAWAR; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Friday underscored the need for holding talks with Afghanistan to tackle the menace of terrorism.
In a statement, Saif lashed out at the federal government for neither making any overtures for dialogue with Afghanistan nor allowing the provincial government to hold negotiations with the neighboring country, adding that the federal government had almost discarded the Terms of References (TORs) for the talks.
“The federal government should devise a concrete policy for talks with Afghanistan. The people of KP and security forces were sacrificing their lives in the war against terror. Terrorism isn’t solely a problem for KP, it affects the whole country. We need to be unified in the war against terror,” he asserted.
Earlier, The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government stated that the casualties in the Bannu attack were caused by the collapse of a mosque roof.
According to media reports, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the blast in Bannu and sought a detailed report from senior officials.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, he extended condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for their elevated ranks and patience for the bereaved. Gandapur called such incidents during the sacred month of Ramazan highly condemnable and tragic.
KP Adviser on Information Barrister Saif said that the terrorist attack and subsequent explosions in Bannu Cantonment caused the roofs of nearby buildings to collapse. He added that security forces successfully finished all attackers, preventing further damage.
Barrister Saif confirmed that the casualties occurred when the roof of a nearby mosque collapsed due to the blasts. He termed the incident deeply saddening and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to thwarting enemies of the state.
He further stated that Chief Minister Gandapur has ordered an investigation into the incident. He assured that the provincial government stood in solidarity with the families of the martyrs and the injured. –Agencies
