PTI-TTP Allegations: Atta Tarar promises evidence of alleged links

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had links with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying the government would present evidence to support the claim soon.

Speaking at a briefing for foreign media representatives in Islamabad alongside Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the information minister said Pakistan needed a unified national policy to combat terrorism.

He argued that the government could not ask Afghanistan to prevent militant groups from operating against Pakistan while following what he described as a conflicting approach at the provincial level.

The allegations come amid heightened political tensions following the federal government’s imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The federal government has accused the PTI-led provincial administration of failing to provide adequate support for counterterrorism efforts. PTI has denied links to militancy and criticised the federal action.

Atta Tarar also alleged that politics, terrorism and crime had become interconnected in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He referred to complaints about the cross-border smuggling of minerals, timber, tobacco, gold and precious stones, questioning whether authorities had done enough to tackle illegal trade.

The minister further claimed that the provincial government had failed to convene relevant Apex Committee meetings and had rejected a consensus on counterterrorism policy.

He said the federal government had repeatedly sought an understanding with the provincial leadership and had not opposed PTI’s political marches or other political demands.

Tarar maintained that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted an end to terrorism, arguing that militant groups threatened education, economic activity and other aspects of civilian life.

The information minister also questioned how the province had used approximately Rs800 billion received under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. He said more resources were needed to strengthen the Counter Terrorism Department, expand Safe City surveillance, establish forensic laboratories and equip police with modern technology.

He praised provincial police personnel for their sacrifices but said they needed better training, equipment and institutional support. He also referred to attacks on police officers, including DSP Shinwari, as examples of the continuing security challenges.

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Tarar said an Area Representative and Development Council was proposed for 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The body would include a chairman, vice-chairman, members and a spokesperson, with regional and tribal representation taken into account. He said it would focus on security concerns and development.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the emergency measures, saying the Constitution provided mechanisms for dealing with extraordinary circumstances.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari had acted on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. According to the minister, the decision followed reports from government agencies about worsening security and rising militant activity.

Azam Tarar said protecting citizens remained a fundamental responsibility of the state, which had been fighting terrorism for decades. He called for stronger coordination among provincial police, the armed forces, federal agencies and customs officials.

The law minister also cited figures that he said showed a sharp increase in terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He claimed 2,911 incidents were recorded between 2021 and 2024, with the figure subsequently rising to approximately 8,600, an increase he described as nearly 200 per cent.

He said government agencies had shared the data with the federal government and the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that cooperation between federal and provincial authorities was essential to tackling terrorism.

The allegations against PTI and the ministers’ figures were presented at the briefing. The claim of links between PTI and the TTP was not independently established in the information provided.