ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of facilitating terrorist activities. He claimed the provincial administration was either unaware of the prevailing law and order challenges or unwilling to take decisive action against militants.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar stated that while all political parties in KP have been targeted by terrorists, PTI remains the preferred party for these groups. He further alleged that PTI not only refrains from condemning terrorist acts but also shows reluctance in countering them effectively.
In a significant development, Tarar labeled PTI as the “B team” of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the “C team” of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA), asserting that aiding terrorists is embedded in the party’s agenda. He urged the KP government to cease any facilitation of terrorist elements.
The minister also criticized KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, suggesting that Afridi’s conduct resembled that of a TTP commander more than a provincial leader. Tarar accused Afridi of lacking the intent to improve security conditions in the province.
He emphasized that maintaining law and order is primarily the responsibility of the provincial government, while security forces continue their operations to eradicate militants. Referring to recent incidents of firing and infiltration from Afghanistan, Tarar noted that Afghan forces had fired into Pakistan’s Kurram region, yet Afridi failed to condemn the attack, which Tarar described as an act of cowardice.
Addressing PTI’s announced protest and long march, Tarar claimed the party had made no concrete preparations for a sit-in and challenged them to demonstrate the courage to proceed with their plans. He alleged that PTI had retreated from its intended long march.
Further accusations included PTI’s alleged attempts to politicize the police force and the KP government’s involvement in illegal contracts. Tarar expressed concern over the helplessness of the people in KP and called on the provincial government to prioritize law and order.
Highlighting the security situation nationwide, Tarar revealed that 2,456 terrorist attacks were recorded in the past year, averaging nearly ten attacks daily. These incidents resulted in the martyrdom of 472 personnel from the police, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary, and military, with over 1,500 others injured.
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