Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to decide whether it stands with Pakistan or Afghanistan as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) continues to face terrorism and cross-border tensions.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry in Islamabad, Tarar criticised the PTI-led provincial government over its response to terrorism and accused it of failing to condemn firing from Afghanistan.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is burning in the fire of terrorism,” Tarar said, adding that the provincial leadership’s main focus remained on securing the release of a prisoner from jail.
He accused the KP government of failing to address terrorism and provide basic services, saying residents were turning to other provinces for essential facilities.
The minister alleged that the provincial government had not taken effective measures against terrorism and questioned where the billions of rupees provided to KP under the NFC Award and for counterterrorism had been spent.
He also said that the Interior Ministry had offered modern vehicles to the KP Police but the provincial government rejected the offer. Tarar alleged that the PTI leadership had left the provincial police “at the mercy of terrorists”.
“I said in KP that their intentions are bad. I have been saying for years that they [PTI] is a B-team of the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan]. I am justified in saying that because they facilitated the terrorists in the last 12 years,” he said.
Tarar said that 12 and a half years were enough to bring changes to a province, accusing the KP government of failing to improve the security situation during its time in power.
“Our firm resolve is to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from its roots,” he added.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also questioned the PTI’s position on Afghanistan. “Why do you have a soft approach towards Afghanistan?” he asked.
Chaudhry said that terrorist attacks “were not jihad” and alleged that those carrying out such attacks received dollars in return.
He also criticised the KP government over its handling of police resources, saying bulletproof vehicles provided to the provincial authorities were returned.
Chaudhry further criticised changes introduced through a new police law in KP, alleging that an attempt had been made to take away police powers.
He said that the KP government had also failed to attend meetings on terrorism despite asking the federal government to involve it in the process.
Chaudhry said that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif held weekly meetings on terrorism and questioned why the provincial government sought NFC funds from Islamabad but did not attend counterterrorism meetings.
