Kohistan Corruption Scandal Belongs to Caretaker Era Involving JUI-F: Barrister Saif

Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has clarified that the Kohistan corruption scandal dates back to the caretaker government, during which Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was part of the ruling setup.
Speaking at a youth talent hunt event organized for the minority community in Peshawar, Barrister Saif said that opposition parties, including JUI-F and PPP, are welcome to run public campaigns, but questioned their public support. “If people were truly with them, their political condition wouldn’t be so dire,” he remarked.
Referring to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s recent statements on the Kohistan scandal, Saif said, “The scandal is from a time when his own party was in power during the caretaker setup. It was the current government that unearthed the scam and recovered Rs. 20 billion. We will recover another Rs. 20 billion from them.”
Barrister Saif also criticized ongoing political and judicial developments, saying unconstitutional decisions are being made across the country. He condemned the convictions of a PTI MNA from Chitral and the former Interior Minister, adding that such moves will not deter the party’s popularity. “We will remove their government with the power of the people and have them convicted in the same courts,” he said.
He rejected claims of a forward bloc within PTI and denied that the party leadership had failed to secure the release of its founding chairman. “Our campaign to educate the public continues, and a new movement will be launched soon,” he announced.
Furthermore, Saif revealed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa budget will be presented on June 13, promising relief for the public.
Responding to criticism over financial aid to the Punjab Bar Council, Barrister Saif defended the move, stating, “Punjab is part of Pakistan. Lawyers have made sacrifices for democracy. The funds were given legally through cabinet approval, unlike others who pocketed provincial funds.”
He reiterated PTI’s commitment to rule of law, transparency, and democratic values, while vowing to continue the political struggle.