PTI Fled Dharna Because It Was Unprepared and Cowardly, Says Atta Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of lacking preparation for its planned sit-in, saying the party backed away from the protest because, in his words, its members were “cowardly.”

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was evident to everyone. He alleged that the provincial government was not only unaware of the situation but was also reluctant to take measures to maintain law and order.

He further alleged that the provincial government was facilitating militants, claiming that militants had attacked political parties but that PTI had remained their preferred political group.

The information minister alleged that PTI had avoided condemning militant attacks and taking action against militants. He accused the party of being a “B-team” of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a “C-team” of the Afghan Taliban, and said PTI had never expressed solidarity with security forces personnel.

Tarar also alleged that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, his cabinet and the provincial PTI government were facilitating militants.

He said maintaining law and order was the responsibility of the provincial government and claimed that 2,456 terrorist attacks had taken place in 2026, resulting in the deaths of 472 Rangers, police and military personnel, while more than 1,500 people had been injured.

Commenting on reports that PTI had postponed its planned sit-in, Tarar said the party had no preparation for the protest. He also made a personal remark about Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying he appeared “less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander.”

Tarar further alleged that illegal timber and tobacco trade was taking place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that political figures were involved in illegal gold mining and contracts that, according to him, were being used to fund militants.

He said a provincial government that did not want to prevent terrorism could not be allowed to continue while innocent citizens were being killed.

Referring to recent security incidents, the minister said that when drones came from Afghanistan, “these people fled,” while Pakistani security forces confronted the militants.

He cited the remarks of an injured person from Hangu who, according to him, had said that they were not cowards and would fight terrorists after recovering from their injuries.

Tarar said the entire nation was making sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and alleged that Sohail Afridi and his associates were supporting militants.

He urged the KP government to stop what he described as facilitation of terrorists and called on PTI to “come to its senses” and work for the integrity and security of Pakistan.