Ban on PTI may no longer be needed after governor’s rule in K-P: Tarar

Says government may no longer need to pursue ban on PTI, accuses it of facilitating terrorism in K-P

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) might no longer be necessary following the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the party had already lost its government in the province due to its alleged support for terrorism.

The emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations between the government and opposition failed, culminating in a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4. Last week, a joint session of parliament adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P for two months, amid protests from the opposition. Before that, both houses of parliament had separately approved the emergency in the province by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers.

Speaking on a private television programme, Capital Talk, the minister said non-functional K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was in protective custody. He added that an advisory council would decide whether Afridi should be arrested or whether a case should be registered against him.

Defending the decision to place Afridi in protective custody, Tarar said it was a natural step after the imposition of an emergency to take key figures into protective custody to prevent potential sabotage or threats to law and order.

Read: PHC seeks Centre’s response over imposition of emergency, governor’s rule in K-P

Criticising the PTI government’s performance in the province, he alleged that it had failed to deliver development projects and improve infrastructure.

“There is no infrastructure in Kohat. The Kohat Tunnel and motorway were built during the PML-N government, and no work has been done there since,” he said, adding that no development had taken place across the province.

“Peace is the fundamental requirement for all these things to happen. They have not even taken a stand for peace. In their view, the TTP are very good people, whom they do not want to condemn,” Tarar said.

Talking about the negotiations with the opposition, the minister said members of the PTI delegation involved in negotiations had been disappointed after Afridi rejected the terms of an agreement reached with the government while blaming the former chief minister and his associates for the collapse of the talks.

Reiterating his earlier position on banning the PTI, Tarar said a principled decision had already been taken, while a final decision would follow the completion of legal preparations. However, he said a ban might no longer be required.

“I believe there may no longer be a need for it because the PTI, as a party, is already absent from parliament. As a result of violations, it did not have an electoral symbol, and its members are not present in the House,” he said.

Lashing out at the PTI over what he described as its alleged support for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups, Tarar said the party had governed the province for more than 13 years.

The minister said that terrorism had been brought under control after 2017 through the complete implementation of the National Action Plan, but alleged that the PTI government had subsequently facilitated the return of militants.

Also Read: Tariq Fazal rubbishes linking governor's rule in K-P to mineral extraction

He said the party had lost its provincial government as a consequence of its alleged facilitation of terrorism, adding that there was little point in pursuing a ban under the circumstances.

The minister also praised Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his role in the negotiations but urged him not to politicise the issue of terrorism.

“Maulana Sahib is an experienced and astute politician. I believe it does not suit him to bring politics into the security of the province,” Tarar said, adding that the elimination of terrorism was an unequivocal objective that had to be achieved at all costs.

Acknowledging JUI-F’s sacrifices and efforts in the fight against terrorism, the minister said all political parties should unite against the menace.

“This is the time for everyone to stand together against terrorism, but terrorism and politics must be kept separate because this is a matter of the safety and security of the people,” he said.