PESHAWAR     -    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has refused to provide police force to the federal government after a demand was made to this end.

KP Minister Shaukat Yousafzai told this scribe that, “Federal government wants to quell the protest of Imran Khan. But a question here arises as to why the interior ministry is more concerned about protests and has little concern for the worsening law and order in KP where we need the presence of the police and FC here.”

We are facing a challenging time, and the province’s expanding security needs cannot be met by the current police force. Additionally, the former Fata region joined Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but we relied on the already-existing police force rather than having a separate police force for the tribal regions, he said.

According to Shaukat, they have severe concerns about Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah since he has done nothing to address the critical security situation in KP, particularly in the Malakand division, as a result of recent events related to the Taliban.

“Since the PTI chairman announced to give a protest call in Islamabad, the interior minister had started blocking the federal capital city and knowing that the KP had been seriously affected by terrorism and is still facing tremendous security situation, he asked us to send him the police force, which is an illogical demand,” he added.

He further said that the other parties also used to protest against price hike during PTI-led federal government. “Today, prices have increased manifold and we want to come out to roads along with public. Why Rana Sanaullah is now hurdling our way,” he added.