Tarar warns PTI of tough action ahead of Sept 27 Islamabad protest

KOHAT: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday warned that the government would not allow the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to bring a ‘violent protest’ to Islamabad, saying those arriving with weapons, sticks, slingshots or other objects would be stopped with an iron fist.

“God willing, we will not allow anyone to come towards Islamabad,” Tarar said while speaking to the media in Kohat, referring to the PTI’s planned September 27 protest in the federal capital.

“If you think you will come with nails, sticks, slingshots, glass and weapons, then this time no one will be allowed to do so,” he said.

His remarks came after PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar warned the government against using force against protesters and said the party would “turn Islamabad into Somnath” — referring to a temple raided by forces of Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025–26 — if violence broke out during the march.

Tarar said Akbar should apologise for the statement and “fear God”, accusing the PTI of trying to spread unrest beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Serve the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Bring development programmes here and improve people’s lives,” he said.

Tarar questions use of KP funds

Tarar repeatedly questioned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s use of funds, particularly money allocated for law and order and development.

“I have said that I want to know where the Rs150 billion went,” he said, referring to additional funds he said had been provided to the province.

He challenged the provincial government to explain where its law-and-order and development funds had been spent, particularly as security personnel continued to lose their lives fighting militants.

Tarar said that there was no shortage of resources or funds in the province but alleged that the problem was a lack of political will.

He questioned why Safe City projects had not been established in every city in the province, why a new Counter Terrorism Department force had not been created and why forensic material from the province was being sent to Punjab.

He also questioned whether adequate weapons and training had been provided to KP police personnel.

Raises questions over mining, timber

Tarar also called for scrutiny of contracts involving mining and other natural resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that the province was losing revenue from its mineral wealth.

He questioned who had received mining contracts and whether they had been awarded through transparent procedures.

He specifically called for details of gold-mining contracts and the tax revenue generated from them, claiming that the provincial government had failed to collect revenue that should benefit local people.

“Tell us who was given the gold-mining contracts, whether they were awarded through a transparent process and how much tax has been collected,” he said.

He also alleged that illegal mining was taking place in the province and questioned the use of timber and other natural resources.

Tarar further raised the issue of tobacco and alleged that illegal cigarette factories had been detected, resulting in tax evasion running into hundreds of billions of rupees.

He said the government would investigate the allegations and take action against those found responsible.

‘Too late’ for talks

Asked whether the federal government would seek talks with the PTI and KP government to end political confrontation, Tarar said the government had repeatedly offered dialogue but had received no serious response.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had offered talks six times in the National Assembly.

“We said from the first day: come and sit down and talk,” Tarar said, adding that the government had made repeated and serious efforts for dialogue.

He said those efforts had now reached a point where it was “too late” for talks, accusing the PTI of resorting to political confrontation, social media campaigns and preparations for a violent protest.

Tarar said that protests and road blockades also imposed a heavy cost on businesses and ordinary workers.

He said that Pakistan’s business community suffers losses of around Rs120 billion from a single day of disruption, saying shopkeepers, labourers and farmers should not have to bear the cost of political protests.

“You cannot provide development, but at least do not disrupt development,” he said.

Criticism of KP government

Tarar also criticised the provincial government for what he described as a focus on political activity rather than public services and development.

He said the PTI had governed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for around 12-and-a-half years but had little to show in terms of major infrastructure and public-sector projects.

He contrasted this with infrastructure projects built under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), including motorways and the Kohat Tunnel.

“The Kohat Tunnel reduced the distance between Peshawar and Kohat. Tell me one tunnel built by the PTI that reduced travel time,” he said.

Tarar also criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over the provincial government’s performance.

“If you cannot do it, go home. If you cannot do it, leave. It is your chair, not your funeral. If you cannot do anything, why don’t you step down?” he said.

He accused the provincial government of prioritising the release of PTI founder Imran Khan over governance, saying the party should pursue the matter through the courts.

Tarar also criticised a recent helicopter trip by a provincial government figure, questioning the use of public resources and calling for the cost of the visit to be deposited into the government treasury.

 ‘Complete inquiry’ into illegal mining

Tarar said the government had already taken notice of the allegations concerning illegal mining and tax evasion.

“There will be a complete inquiry and those found responsible will face action,” he said.

The minister was in Kohat to meet families of security personnel killed in the fight against militancy and pay tribute to the province’s soldiers and civilians.

He said his meetings with the families of martyrs and wounded security personnel had strengthened his resolve and expressed confidence that terrorism would eventually be defeated and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would become a peaceful and developed province.