Tarar says no one will be allowed to create unrest in Islamabad

PESHAWAR: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said that no one would be allowed to create unrest in Islamabad, as the government stepped up security preparations ahead of a planned protest and long march by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club after inaugurating the Radio Pakistan’s rehabilitated building in Peshawar, Tarar said that the government would ensure law and order and would not allow public property to be damaged.

He said the government had no enmity with anyone and was focused on addressing issues through political means.

“We will not allow them to create unrest in Islamabad under any circumstances,” Tarar said.

He questioned the PTI’s approach to protests, saying political parties should engage in politics rather than creating unrest.

Tarar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken to the JI chief Hafiz Neemur Rehman by telephone and that the government remained engaged with the party.

On PTI, Tarar said that the government was still unclear about whom to engage with for negotiations and questioned whether PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had the authority to make decisions or ensure their implementation.

Turning to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarar criticised the provincial government’s performance, saying the issue was not a lack of resources but what he described as a lack of intent to undertake development.

He said the federal government had provided billions of rupees to the province under the National Finance Commission and questioned the use of funds provided for law and order.

“We do not say that maintaining law and order is entirely the federal government’s responsibility. The provincial government should at least show seriousness,” he said.

Tarar said the federal government was ready to work with the KP government in every sector but claimed the provincial administration had repeatedly said it did not need federal assistance.

He also questioned the provincial government’s ability to collect taxes, saying people should contribute to the provincial revenue system.

Tarar said that KP should focus on improving facilities in health and other public services, claiming that doctors from the province travelled to Punjab because of inadequate facilities in KP.

He also raised questions about the province’s Safe City project and forensic laboratory, asking how much money would be required for the schemes.

The minister said the government would not allow the province’s resources to be exploited and would continue efforts to improve security and development.

On Afghanistan, Tarar said Pakistan did not want Afghan territory or its people to be used against the country.

He said the government had hosted millions of Afghan citizens over several decades but would not accept the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan.

Tarar said the existing state policy regarding Afghan students would remain in place for now.

He also claimed that the government had video and intelligence evidence showing that militants were entering Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Tarar further criticised the PTI, accusing it of focusing on political narratives rather than development and saying the federal government would continue to press the provincial administration for an account of its performance.

One editorial point: I would leave out or separately verify several of the more specific allegations in the supplied remarks — such as the claims about “Rs150 billion”, corruption, the Chagai model, Colonel Sher Khan and the Kohat incident — unless you have the minister’s exact recording or an official transcript. That keeps the story legally and journalistically tighter.