Pakistan - Violence in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Violence has not ceased in the frontline province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as four Customs officials patrolling the Hangu Road, in Kohat, were shot dead by unknown assailants, on Wednesday. The law and order situation in the province has been seriously affected due to militant strongholds and close proximity with FATA. Migration from Afghanisation and FATA has contributed to the problem. It may not have caused much trouble had proper registration of refugees and displaced persons been carried out at the time of their arrival two decades back and recently. When law enforcement agencies are not even aware of certain people residing in the province, it is highly unlikely that they will be able to shield the larger populace from their actions. The attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar too could have been avoided had the government acted on intelligence reports and the military would have played its part in securing an area largely under its control.
Following the incident, the police has been conducting “search operations” mainly in Malakand, Mardan, Hangu, DI Khan and Peshawar. According to reports, 2,166 search operations have been carried out so resulting in the arrest of 4,582 people, 2,141 amongst them from Peshawar alone. Moreover, approximately 24,000 houses and 6,000 hotels have been searched as well. While LEAs appear to have taken on a somewhat proactive role, it is difficult to conclude that these actions will have significant and lasting consequences. The courts, where suspects will be presented, may not be satisfied with the evidence presented before it as it often happens. Reform, that is critically needed for lower courts and prosecution, remains missing.
Under the PTI-led coalition government in KP, the police has indeed shown some improvement. There are less complaints of meddling by politicians, and IG Nasir Khan Durrani has set a new precedent by taking action against corrupt officials. But still, the province has suffered due to lack of attention from provincial and central leaders . The time wasted by Imran Khan and KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak on the container may have been better spent in service of the people who elected them to power. While people respond positively to the change in police, they are not entirely pleased with the PTI leadership, which they accuse of negligence. The law and order situation in KP cannot be improved without countering the pro-terrorism narrative. On this front, the PTI and JI are hopelessly inefficient, even unwilling, and in fact, often contribute to the problem. This much has become clear: this KP government will never present itself as the wall standing between the people and terrorists.