ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over reports that the party has postponed its planned sit-in, alleging that it lacked preparations for the protest.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was evident and accused the provincial government of failing to take adequate measures to maintain security.
He alleged that the provincial government was facilitating militants and claimed that PTI had avoided condemning terrorist attacks and taking action against militant groups.
Tarar further alleged that PTI had never expressed solidarity with security forces personnel. He described KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, his cabinet and the provincial PTI government as “facilitators of terrorists.”
The minister said maintaining law and order was a provincial responsibility and that the KP government was responsible for controlling the security situation.
According to Tarar, 2,456 terrorist attacks were recorded in Pakistan in 2026, resulting in the deaths of 472 Rangers, police and military personnel, while more than 1,500 people were injured.
Commenting on reports that PTI had postponed its sit-in, Tarar said the party had “run away” from holding the protest because it was not prepared. He also criticised Afridi, saying he appeared “less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander.”
Tarar also alleged that illegal timber and tobacco trade, as well as illegal gold mining, was taking place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed that individuals linked to the provincial government were involved in illegal mining and contracts that, according to him, provided funds to militants.
The information minister said the federal government could not tolerate a provincial administration that failed to prevent terrorism while innocent civilians were being killed.
He praised the security forces for confronting militants and said citizens, law-enforcement personnel and security forces remained committed to eliminating terrorism.
Tarar said the entire nation was making sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and urged the PTI-led provincial government to refrain from what he described as facilitating militants and to work for the country’s security and integrity.
