Info minister alleges 'nexus' between PTI's KP govt, terrorists

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) of having a "nexus" with terrorist groups, as the central government announced the imposition of an emergency in the province. Tarar, along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, held a press conference shortly after the emergency was declared.

The PTI and the central government have been at odds over counterterrorism policy, which led to the breakdown of their October 3 talks.

Tarar claimed that terrorists have a clear influence on how each district in KP is governed and that the PTI has received "secure access and passage" thanks to its alleged alliance with terrorist groups. He alleged that several districts have been sublet to the Taliban, and that the PTI's facilitation of such elements has contributed to the martyrdom of people and attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The minister further alleged that the PTI government was gradually empowering terrorists and facilitating their takeover of several districts.

Naqvi stated that the central government had tried to collaborate with the KP government on counterterrorism efforts, but the provincial government showed no interest. He emphasized that the issues between the two governments were not political but solely related to terrorism. Naqvi also revealed that the central government had communicated to the PTI repeatedly that they had no issue with the party's long march, but the core issue was terrorism.

The interior minister further detailed the security challenges KP faces, stating that the situation was particularly dire in 12 districts. He claimed that the PTI team had agreed to impose the emergency in these districts, but they were "scared of being seen meeting with us." Naqvi acknowledged that the security situation was extremely bad in some districts, yet the PTI was still able to hold rallies without any incidents. He concluded that the federal government had exhausted all options to avoid imposing the emergency.