Independent Senator Faisal Vawda has rebutted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s claims of no mention of a counterterrorism operation in the apex committee.

“KP chief minister was briefed on all the details during the briefing and now he [Gandapur] is saying that he knows about the name, but does not know about the operation,” he said while appearing on Rubaroo aired on Aaj News on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the provincial CM claimed that the apex committee had outlined a policy to eradicate terrorism but did not mention the operation.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the reinvigorated counterterrorism Operation Azm-i-Istehkam during the Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan in Islamabad on Saturday. “Azm-e-Istehkam will integrate and synergise multiple lines of effort to combat the menaces of extremism and terrorism in a comprehensive and decisive manner,” it said.

According to Vawda, it was an “extended operation” that has been ongoing, and stated that its scope would be expanded. In response to a question, he said that PTI’s founder was most in favour of such operations and has always supported them.

He claimed that the operation would be approved by the cabinet and would also be passed by Parliament.

When asked about Gandapur, the minister expressed doubt that he would remain the chief minister for much longer.

He claimed that the PTI would be disappointed and disheartened in the reserved seats case in the Supreme Court.

Vawda was of the view that it was legally impossible for the PTI to be allotted those specific seats, as Article 51 of the Constitution was very clear on the matter. He added that the PTI made a “huge blunder”.

He alleged that the PTI wanted Imran Khan to remain entangled in legal troubles so that they “can continue to reap the benefits.”

Vawda criticised the derogatory language used by SIC MNA Maulana Sanaullah Mastikhel against Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during an assembly session.