Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has launched a sharp attack on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing it of staying disengaged from the province’s security crisis. In a statement posted on X, the minister said the provincial leadership is focused on a political march while militants strike the people of KP.
According to the minister, terrorists killed five innocent people in Dera Ismail Khan on October 6. Two of the victims were customs officials. Asif said that in the aftermath, the provincial cabinet, including the Chief Minister, remained absorbed in what he called a failed long march. He claimed that none of them condemned the killings, expressed condolences to the bereaved families, attended the funerals or visited the victims’ homes.
The defence minister also targeted the Chief Minister over a planned late-night meeting. He alleged that the meeting was meant to reprimand the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Secretary of KP for attending the Governor’s security meeting earlier in the day, which he said they did at the direction of the Chief Minister’s own party.
Asif argued that the provincial leadership has effectively left the people of the province at the mercy of militants. He said this is why residents of KP have been protesting against the provincial government in several areas.
The minister went further, alleging collusion between the provincial government and terrorists. He claimed that evidence of a facilitation network has been visible to every Pakistani over the past three years, and said that enough blood had been shed in the province.
Asif contrasted this with the PTI’s years in power. He said that during that period, Nawaz Sharif and his family, along with PML-N leaders, were jailed, and that time had shown the allegations against them to be just that, allegations. He also claimed Imran Khan was imprisoned on fabricated charges.
Despite this, Asif said, the PML-N played its parliamentary role responsibly under the Constitution. He said the party did not hold the country or its institutions hostage, fought its battles in courts and parliament, and never allied with the Taliban.
Closing his statement, Asif said the time had come for crucial decisions. In his words, KP cannot be left any longer in the hands of what he described as incompetent, insensitive rulers and Taliban allies. He added that the unity of the country must not be put at risk and that an entire province cannot be held hostage.