Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticizes PTI’s governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raises concerns over terrorism and contrasts the province’s situation with federal development initiatives.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of neglecting development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past 13½ years, alleging that the provincial government has prioritised political protests over public welfare, infrastructure and counterterrorism efforts.

In remarks reported on Oct. 10, Tarar criticised successive PTI-led provincial governments for what he described as poor governance, inadequate public services and a deteriorating security situation. He said the province, once known for peace and tourism, had suffered setbacks in development and public safety.

Tarar contrasts federal initiatives with KP’s development

Highlighting federal government initiatives, Tarar referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s inauguration of an information technology (IT) park and the establishment of business and startup facilities. He also claimed that 10 million people had benefited from the federal government’s fuel relief scheme.

The minister argued that these initiatives demonstrated the importance of focusing on economic opportunities and public relief. He criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for allegedly failing to deliver adequate facilities in healthcare, education, roads, bridges, underpasses and other areas of infrastructure.

Tarar said the province’s residents had been deprived of development opportunities and accused the provincial leadership of failing to use its time and resources effectively.

PTI accused of facilitating militants

The federal minister also levelled serious allegations against PTI over the province’s security situation. He described the party as the “B team” of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), accusing its leadership of facilitating militants and failing to adopt a sufficiently firm position against terrorism.

Tarar alleged that militants had been resettled in settled areas following military operations, including Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad. He argued that the province’s security challenges required stronger counterterrorism measures and greater attention from the provincial government.

His remarks reflected the federal government minister’s criticism of PTI’s approach to security and governance. The allegations against the party and provincial administration were not independently established by the remarks themselves.

Calls for greater focus on governance

Tarar said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was facing persistent security threats while the provincial government remained occupied with political protests. He accused PTI of failing to prioritise public welfare and claimed that the province had not received the development attention its population needed.

He also said chief ministers across the country were working to address administrative and development challenges, contrasting their efforts with what he described as shortcomings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The minister maintained that the provincial government should concentrate on improving security, healthcare, education and infrastructure rather than political confrontation.

He concluded by accusing PTI of failing to deliver meaningful development during its extended period in power in the province, arguing that residents needed effective governance, improved public services and practical measures to restore peace.