Information Minister Attaullah Tarar questioned the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s approach to counterterrorism, national security and political consultations.
Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar has issued a detailed response to PTI leader Salman Akram Raja, questioning the party’s approach to political consultations, counterterrorism and security policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Tarar said the PTI had been calling for consultation with all political parties for the past three years, but did not respond when the federal government approached it with proposals for consultations. He alleged that the PTI had now started responding to calls for a joint mechanism against terrorism because its political position in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had weakened.
The minister also questioned what he described as a gap between the PTI’s stated position on counterterrorism and the policies of its provincial government. He alleged that statements from the party and the KP government had, in practice, supported positions favorable to militants and contributed to the spread of terrorism in the province.
Tarar raised several questions about the KP government’s participation in national security forums. He asked why the provincial government did not attend meetings of the federal Apex Committee and why it had not convened its own Apex Committee meetings to review the security situation, as other provinces have done.
He also questioned why the KP chief minister and cabinet had not publicly condemned the Afghan Taliban government over allegations of support for terrorism in Pakistan, attacks on security posts and drone attacks. Tarar asked whether the provincial government had openly supported the armed forces and police personnel who, he said, had sacrificed thousands of lives while fighting terrorism in the province.
The minister further questioned the provincial government’s implementation of the National Action Plan, particularly measures related to illegal activities, undocumented Afghan nationals and strengthening the capacity of police and the Counter Terrorism Department.
Tarar also asked why PTI leaders did not regularly attend the funerals of security personnel killed in terrorist attacks or visit security posts to demonstrate support for the forces. He questioned how frequently provincial leadership had visited former Federally Administered Tribal Areas and engaged with their administrative and development issues.
According to Tarar, the PTI repeatedly turns to calls for consultation and joint action when under political pressure but does not follow through with practical measures. He blamed the PTI-led KP government for failing to implement the National Action Plan and alleged that this had contributed to both worsening terrorism and economic damage in the province.
Tarar urged the PTI to stop what he described as delaying tactics in the name of consultations, jirgas and other mechanisms, warning that the federal government would not allow what he characterized as attempts to confuse or mislead the public through political statements.
About The Author
