Tarar accuses PTI, KP govt of facilitating terrorists

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Friday accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of facilitating terrorists.

He said that the provincial government was unaware of the law and order situation and reluctant to take action against terrorists.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar alleged that all political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been targeted by terrorists, but claimed that PTI was the “terrorists’ favourite” political party.

He accused the PTI of not only avoiding condemning terrorists but also being reluctant to take action against them.

The information minister described the 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)”, alleging that facilitating terrorists had been part of the party’s policy.

He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should refrain from facilitating terrorists.

Tarar also criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying he appeared “less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander”.

He alleged that Afridi did not want to improve the law and order situation in the province.

The minister said that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the provincial government, adding that security forces were fighting terrorism and continuing operations to eliminate militants.

Referring to alleged firing and infiltration from Afghanistan, Tarar said that Afghanistan had fired into Pakistan in Kurram, but the KP chief minister had not even condemned the incident. He described the lack of condemnation as cowardice.

Tarar also referred to the PTI’s planned protest and long march, saying the party had made no preparations for a sit-in.

“Have the courage, come and hold the long march,” he said, claiming that the PTI had backed away from its planned sit-in and long march.

The information minister further alleged that the PTI wanted to turn the police into a political force and accused the KP government of being involved in illegal contracts.

He said people in the province had been left helpless and urged the provincial government to focus on maintaining law and order.

According to Tarar, 2,456 terrorist attacks were reported in the country over the past year, averaging nearly 10 attacks a day.

He said 472 police, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and military personnel were martyred and more than 1,500 were injured in the incidents.