Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Science and Information Technology Shafi Jan on Monday said that federal ministers are repeatedly trying to link terrorism with the provincial government, saying the issue of militancy should not be used for political point-scoring.
“Terrorism is a national issue and requires a serious and joint strategy for its elimination,” Shafi Jan said while addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saeed Marwat.
The minister said federal ministers had presented incorrect figures regarding the provincial police at a recent press conference. Referring to Ikhtiar Wali, he said that incorrect figures had been presented in an attempt to distort facts about the police.
Shafi Jan said statements by federal ministers were creating an impression that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not taking measures against terrorism. He said such statements undermined the sacrifices of the provincial police and were an attempt to create a negative narrative against the provincial government.
“If law and order is being cited as a justification for imposing Governor’s Rule, then the situation in Balochistan should also be examined,” he said, adding that any such move in KP would trigger a public response.
He said militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had emerged as a major challenge after 9/11 and recalled that PTI founder Imran Khan had opposed drone strikes in erstwhile FATA. He said the PTI government, after coming to power in 2013, had worked towards peace and development.
He further claimed that the security situation had improved during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister but deteriorated after the removal of his government.
The minister criticised Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar for his statements on KP and said that if he was visiting the province to assess the situation, he should also visit Balochistan.
Shafi Jan said the KP government was ready to sit with all stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive strategy against terrorism. However, he questioned the federal government’s approach towards the issue.
On the long march, the minister said the change in the September 27 date was part of the party’s political strategy. He alleged that the federal government was attempting to create confrontation between the people and state institutions, saying his government would not allow such efforts to succeed.
He also criticised the federal government over past political controversies, including the Dawn Leaks controversy and the 2014 attack on the Supreme Court. “We stand with Pakistan. Pakistan is part of our faith,” he said.
Regarding the procurement of modern equipment for the provincial police, Shafi Jan said Rs7.4 billion had been paid to Heavy Industries Taxila and other relevant federal institutions for 57 items, but only 13 had so far been supplied to the KP police.
He alleged that unnecessary delays were being caused in the supply of the remaining equipment.
The minister said the KP government had placed strengthening of police and law and order among its top priorities. He said the police budget had been increased to Rs191 billion, while Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had allocated a special package of Rs35 billion for the police and Counter Terrorism Department.
“After health and education, the police have received the largest budgetary allocation,” he said.
Shafi Jan said KP had borne a heavy human and financial cost in the war against terrorism, claiming that around 80,000 people had lost their lives over the years.
“Despite these sacrifices, KP is still being subjected to criticism and taunts instead of being given its due share in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
The minister said that the federal government’s current policies had contributed to an increase in terrorist incidents. He said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had written several letters seeking a meeting of the Apex Committee but had yet to receive a response.
The Provincial Information Minister said the provincial government did not want confrontation with state institutions and remained committed to peace, the protection of citizens and the elimination of terrorism.