ISLAMABAD (The COW News Digital) Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has defended the federal government’s measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying they were taken in accordance with the 1973 Constitution after the province’s governance system allegedly became paralysed and the law and order situation deteriorated.
Addressing foreign media representatives, Tarar said the federal government had made several attempts to reach an understanding with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the provincial government on a unified strategy against terrorism. He maintained that Islamabad’s objective was not political confrontation but a coordinated national response to security threats.
According to the minister, PTI could have continued its political march and pursued its other demands, provided there was agreement on joint action against terrorism.
“There cannot be a government that sympathises with terrorists,” Tarar said, arguing that policies must not allow militant groups to continue their activities.
Tarar said Pakistan could not afford to pursue conflicting approaches to terrorism at the federal and provincial levels. He pointed to Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, saying the federal government had been urging the Afghan interim administration to take credible action against militant safe havens and prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks inside Pakistan.
He questioned how the country could maintain a consistent counterterrorism strategy if the provincial government followed a different approach towards the Afghan administration.
The minister said constitutional provisions had been incorporated to address circumstances of this nature, adding that the federal government considered its measures legally justified under the Constitution.
Tarar also alleged that credible information indicated political representatives from other parties faced difficulties travelling safely through districts affected by militant activity. He further claimed that PTI’s political march had passed through certain areas following arrangements with militant organisations. These allegations were not independently substantiated in the statement.
The information minister said approximately Rs800 billion had been transferred to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government through the National Finance Commission (NFC) mechanism.
He questioned why the province had not used sufficient resources to strengthen its Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), install Safe City surveillance cameras, establish forensic laboratories, purchase modern equipment for police and develop an effective narrative against violent extremism.
Tarar also alleged that links between politics, terrorism and organised crime had undermined governance in the province. He referred to reported smuggling involving minerals, timber, tobacco, gold and precious stones, claiming that such activities required closer scrutiny.
The minister further criticised the provincial government’s performance in education, healthcare and the delivery of basic public services, saying residents had endured years of insecurity and economic hardship.
Recalling a recent visit to Kohat following a terrorist incident, Tarar said he had met injured victims in hospital and visited the families of those killed.
He said people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted an end to terrorism despite the difficulties they had faced for decades. According to the minister, militant violence had severely affected livelihoods, employment and daily life.
Tarar also criticised the ideology promoted by the Taliban, arguing that restrictions on women’s education were incompatible with the principles of Islam.
He alleged that militants had gained influence in parts of the province, particularly in southern districts, while the provincial administration had failed to respond adequately. He said the federal government had attempted to persuade provincial authorities to adopt a coordinated counterterrorism policy, but an agreement was ultimately rejected by the chief minister.
The minister also questioned the provincial government’s participation in high-level meetings linked to the National Action Plan, saying cooperation between federal and provincial authorities was essential to addressing the threat.
Tarar claimed the public had welcomed the federal government’s measures and expressed hope that improved security would protect lives, property and livelihoods. He also defended the composition of a newly formed advisory council, saying it included experienced individuals from public and private sectors, with attention to tribal balance and gender representation.
The minister’s briefing presented the federal government’s justification for its actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, the allegations against PTI and the provincial administration require independent verification, and the provincial government’s response was not included in the available account.
The political and constitutional implications of the measures, alongside the continuing security challenges in the province, are likely to remain central issues in Pakistan’s debate over governance and counterterrorism policy.
