Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar pays tribute to fallen security personnel in Kohat and criticizes the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over security and governance issues.
KOHAT: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Atta Tarar said Monday that the government and the nation would continue the fight against terrorism until the threat was eliminated, as he paid tribute to security personnel killed in the recent Kohat incident.
Addressing workers and speaking to the media in Kohat, Tarar said the city was mourning the loss of brave men who had sacrificed their lives for the country’s defense and security.
He praised the courage of soldiers and police personnel who participated in the operation, saying the spirit of injured security personnel receiving treatment at CMH Kohat was encouraging. He said the sacrifices of those who lost their lives would not be forgotten.
Tarar also visited the family of police official Faheemullah, who was killed in the Kohat incident, and offered Fateha. According to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, Faheemullah was the only brother of three sisters. Tarar met his father, Ikramullah, and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
The minister said terrorists were attacking from hiding but could not weaken the resolve of the Pakistani nation.
Turning to provincial politics, Tarar questioned the whereabouts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during the Kohat incident. He alleged that the chief minister was in Lahore for political activities and criticized the provincial government over its handling of security, education, health and public welfare.
Tarar also alleged that corruption and irregularities were taking place in the province and questioned the allocation of development funds, contracts and gold-mining concessions. These remarks were political allegations made by the federal minister and were not independently established in the material reviewed for this report.
On the proposed political activity in Islamabad, Tarar said the capital would not be allowed to be shut down and warned that armed groups would not be permitted to enter the city. He also criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s record of protests, alleging that some of its demonstrations had involved violence.
The minister further highlighted development projects in Kohat, including the tunnel and motorway, which he attributed to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, while criticizing the KP government over forest cutting, alleged illegal cigarette factories and other governance issues.
His visit came as Kohat continued to mourn casualties from the attack on the old police lines. Local reports said the clearance operation ended after several hours, with security forces killing eight attackers; the reported death toll among police and civilians subsequently rose to 24.
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