Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan has issued a stern warning that the provincial government along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists would encircle the Governor House should governor’s rule be imposed in the province.
Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Shafi emphasized that the federal government must collaborate with the provincial administration to address terrorism, rather than making decisions behind closed doors without consulting KP authorities. He urged, “Our doors remain open. Let us unite and resolve the terrorism issue together.”
In a significant development, Shafi accused the federal government of attempting to provoke a rift between state institutions and PTI. He also criticized Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, suggesting he should visit Balochistan to offer condolences to the families of those affected by recent violence.
Shafi highlighted a troubling narrative being pushed, questioning whether KP wished to remain part of Pakistan or align with Afghanistan. He firmly stated, “We are Pakistanis, and Pakistan runs in our veins. It is integral to our faith, and we will defend every inch of this country.”
He underscored the sacrifices KP has made in combating terrorism, claiming that 80,000 people from the province have been martyred. Shafi dismissed claims that KP received Rs500 billion under the war on terror as inaccurate, alleging instead that funds were directed to the federal government for acquiring weapons and technology for the Counter Terrorism Department.
While asserting that the provincial government does not intend to oppose state institutions, Shafi warned that it would respond firmly if its patriotism is questioned. Regarding negotiations with militants, he pointed out what he described as a double standard: talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were deemed acceptable when conducted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but criticized when others advocated dialogue.
“We had warned in advance about the Taliban’s return,” he added. The minister accused the federal government of creating unrest in KP by making decisions without provincial consultation.
On the political front, Shafi revealed that PTI was fully prepared for its long march, but the postponement of the date was a strategic move to allow workers more time to organize. The march is scheduled to depart for Islamabad on the morning of October 4 and is expected to take six to seven days to reach the capital.
He reiterated that PTI remains open to negotiations, emphasizing that political disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.
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