Atta Tarar says talk of governor’s rule, emergency in KP is premature

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said discussion on imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is premature.

Speaking on ARY News programme ‘Eleventh Hour’, Tarar said the KP government had completely failed to maintain law and order.

He alleged that the provincial government appeared to have sympathies with terrorists and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Tarar said his position as a federal minister required him to speak only on verified information and that commenting on speculation about governor’s rule or an emergency would be premature.

He said governance in KP under the PTI government had completely collapsed and terrorists were moving freely in the province.

The minister said the provincial government had failed to improve police capacity, resulting in loss of lives. He added that people in the province were angry because protecting the lives and property of citizens was the basic responsibility of the provincial government.

Tarar said KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi did not have the capacity to mobilise people.

He claimed that Afridi had met people whom he had previously called “touts” and had pleaded with Ali Amin Gandapur, which, according to Tarar, showed that he had become weak.

He said the PTI had announced a long march, but given the situation on the ground, terrorism was taking place in the province.

“If they want to hold a long march, they should march against terrorism and for the protection of the people,” Tarar said.

He said it would be difficult for the PTI to march towards Islamabad under the current circumstances.

Tarar said Islamabad had the Diplomatic Enclave and diplomatic offices, asking whether the impression should be created that there was unrest in the capital all the time.

“We will ensure Islamabad remains safe and make complete arrangements. There is absolutely no permission to destroy the peace of the capital or endanger people’s lives and property,” he said.

Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had committed to meeting the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership and was returning to Pakistan from London today.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami had always held peaceful protests and used a civilised tone.

The minister said the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI leadership would take place soon, adding that its outcome would be seen afterwards.