Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday alleged that the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a “nexus” with terrorist groups, as the Centre explained that the province’s security situation necessitated the imposition of emergency there.
asserted
situation → allege → emergency
The press conference by government ministers — Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry — came shortly after the Centre imposed emergency in KP, citing the provincial government’s lack of efforts to combat terrorism.
asserted
Centre → come → terrorism
Addressing the media in Islamabad, the information minister said all cabinet members who attended Sunday’s meeting were of the view that the “PTI government in KP is hand in glove with terrorists and has an unholy alliance with terrorists”.
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government → address → terrorists
“Terrorists have a clear say in how each district will be run,” he alleged, citing reports from the Intelligence Bureau and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
asserted
he → have → Bureau
He contended that while other political parties faced terrorist attacks in the region, the PTI got “secure access and passage” thanks to its alleged alliance with such groups.
“What is the reason that even police stations of some districts have been sublet to the Taliban?” Tarar asked, emphasising that the case was not merely of inaction and incompetence but of “empowering” the terrorists.
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case → contend → terrorists
The minister went on to allege that a “power-sharing formula was gradually taking shape between terrorists and the PTI’s KP government, which was starting from southern districts and was ingressing further into the entire KP”.
asserted
which → go → KP
He said the “unholy alliance and the nexus between them, as a result of which they had outsourced several districts to terrorists,” enabled the martyrdom of people and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
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they → say → infrastructure
“I say this publicly that these [Taliban] are foreign-funded people who want to bring our country to destruction,” he said, asserting that a provincial government’s facilitation towards such elements was a “constitutional breakdown”.
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facilitation → say → elements
Tarar referred to the recent bill regarding police assignments and alleged that the KP government wanted to “hire individuals from terrorist groups in the police”.
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government → refer → police
“They were gradually dragging the entire province towards destruction, irrefutable proof and evidence of which is available.”
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proof → drag → which
Naqvi details govt efforts to resolve issues
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Naqvi → detail → issues
In his remarks, the interior minister said the Centre tried to take the KP government on board in the counterterrorism fight, but the efforts were in vain due to a lack of response from the latter.
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efforts → say → latter
At the outset of Sunday’s briefing, Naqvi said, “Today was not an easy day for us.
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Today → say → us
For over one month, we continuously tried to take the KP government on board.
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we → try → board
I was personally in touch with them in the background; our only goal was to onboard them so that we could fight together against terrorism.”
uncertain
we → onboard → terrorism
The minister went on to reveal that he was in contact with PTI leaders until 11:45pm last night and had been communicating with them “all day about the draft’s para four”.
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he → go → para
“They did not respond all day.”
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They → respond → ?
“I told them that we can still avoid the situation.
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we → tell → situation
Things have gone too far, but we can still do something to delay tomorrow morning’s situation,” he said, referring to the imposition of emergency that the Centre had been mulling.
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Centre → go → that
Naqvi also highlighted efforts by veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman to reduce tensions, but no solution could be found.
uncertain
solution → highlight → tensions
He even said the Centre communicated to the PTI repeatedly that it had “no issue” with the party’s long march.
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it → say → march
“Our issue was entirely terrorism-related, and we want to take you on board on it.”
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we → relate → it
While acknowledging that there were many issues related to KP’s governance, Naqvi said, “My and the entire interior ministry’s point of view was clear: the situation was not linked to politics even one per cent.
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situation → acknowledge → politics
We were purely seeing this on the basis of terrorism.”
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We → see → terrorism
Referring to the Oct 3 talks between the Centre and PTI, he contended that the situation would have been different if they had reached an agreement back then.”
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they → refer → agreement
“Even if last night they had said yes, it (emergency) would not have happened.”
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it → say → ?
He added, “Ask them who their masterminds are.
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masterminds → add → them
Who were sabotaging them?”
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Who → sabotage → them
The interior minister then elaborated on the security challenges KP faces, stating that the situation was “really bad” in 12 districts.
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situation → elaborate → districts
“In some districts, you cannot even leave your house in the evening.”
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you → leave → evening
“We had multiple meetings with Sohail Afridi, and the only topic was terrorism; no political conversation happened,” he emphasised.
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he → have → Afridi
The minister said a plan was proposed to strengthen KP Police in five districts initially and eventually hand over security to it in six months, then repeat the process in another five districts.
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plan → say → districts
“They said they had a lack of funds, but it is on the record that we said that we will provide any more funds you need.
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you → say → funds
This was a four-month-old conversation but still no work has happened on it.”
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work → happen → it
Naqvi further claimed that the PTI team had agreed on imposing emergency in 12 districts, but added that they were “scared of being seen meeting with us”.
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they → claim → us
“We had clarity on one thing that we did not want to involve politics in this.”
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we → have → this
He further alleged, “Their connections with the Taliban are no secret.
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connections → allege → Taliban
I would not say anything further.”
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I → say → anything
The minister remarked that the security situation was extremely bad in certain districts, yet the PTI was able to hold rallies and “not even one person was harmed”.
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person → remark → rallies
“We only had two options: either we would see the martyrdoms daily, or we end them.
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we → see → them
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
