Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday pushed back against criticism of counter-terrorism policies by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, insisting the PTI-led provincial government had failed to take adequate measures to combat terrorism.
In a joint press conference, the two ministers emphasized that the KP government had failed to provide leadership, resources or powers to forces fighting terrorism in the province. Chaudhry also accused the PTI-led government of “creating space” for terrorists.
“If Pakistan is burning in the fire of terrorism, it is because of KP’s incompetent leadership,” he alleged, noting it was the provincial government’s responsibility to allocate funds for counterterrorism in its annual budget. “Why did you not provide the resources?” he questioned, adding the Counter-Terrorism Department had yet to be made functional in the entire province.
“Your forces cannot fight unarmed. You do not have bulletproof jackets, cars, training, CTD, Safe City [cameras], or a forensic lab,” he said, claiming Punjab had completed Safe City projects on the tehsil level. Seeking accountability from the provincial government—the PTI has been in power for 13 years—he maintained the province had received around Rs. 800 billion under the National Finance Commission Award solely for fighting terrorism.
During the press talk, the minister of state reiterated criticism of the KP chief minister and his cabinet failing to attend funeral prayers of martyrs of the Kohat bombing, regretting they were more concerned with their “street” movement. He also questioned why Afridi had not condemned Afghanistan’s role during a press conference in Dera Ismail Khan after last week’s suicide bombing.
“Why do you have a soft attitude on Afghanistan? Why do you deliberately employ such ambiguity and demeanor, and do not openly condemn or name the real enemy or from where these proxies operate?” he questioned.
According to Chaudhry, terrorist “proxies are financed by our eastern border and their hideouts are on the western border.” He stressed Islamabad had conveyed its concerns to Kabul in every manner possible, with no results.
Chaudhry also criticized the provincial government’s proposed changes to the Police Act, claiming it sought to reduce powers of police rather than expand them. Responding to the PTI’s claims that it is not included in framing counter-terrorism policies, the minister claimed the party leadership did not show up to meetings when invited. “You come to Islamabad to demand NFC funds, but your C.M. does not show up for anti-terrorism meetings,” he said.
‘B’ team
In his turn at the mic, Tarar said PTI had not taken ownership of the fight against terrorism, reiterating that the party acts as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)’s “B team.” He alleged the PTI had facilitated terrorists throughout its tenure governing KP, claiming it did not want to condemn them due to “financial interests.”
He alleged the provincial government had not ensured the registration of all vehicles, as this made the “surveillance of terrorists easier.” The funds generated from car registration, he said, could have been used for the benefit of the people of KP. “You sacrificed the security of the entire province for your political gains,” he claimed. “You will now have to decide if you are with Pakistan or with Afghanistan. It is as clear as that,” he added.