Report: Hurish Shah FT:
ISLAMABAD — Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry on Tuesday said that the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been deteriorating for years, accusing the provincial leadership of failing to take effective measures against terrorism.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, he said the government had continued negotiations with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) until the last moment to resolve the issue through dialogue.
He described governor’s rule or emergency as the least preferred option for a democratic government but said the rising threat of terrorism and the sacrifices of security personnel had compelled the government to take the step.
Chaudhry said law enforcement personnel were being martyred in the fight against terrorism, while their families, widows and orphaned children continued to bear the consequences. He questioned how many more families would have to suffer before effective measures were taken to address the security situation.
He claimed that PTI had repeatedly been asked to provide a practical commitment to combating terrorism but had failed to give a satisfactory response. He also criticised what he described as a policy of leniency towards militants, arguing that it had contributed to the worsening situation.
The parliamentary secretary also questioned Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's current political stance towards PTI, referring to allegations and statements he had reportedly made against the party and its founder in previous years.
Citing remarks attributed to Fazlur Rehman from 2012, 2021, 2022 and 2023, Chaudhry questioned the consistency of his current position and called on him to clarify whether his earlier allegations or his present stance reflected his actual views.
He further rejected allegations that the imposition of governor’s rule was linked to an agreement concerning mines and mineral resources, describing such claims as baseless. He maintained that the decision was driven by security concerns, rising terrorism and the sacrifices of security personnel rather than political pressure or a deal.
Drawing a comparison between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Chaudhry said the two provinces faced different security challenges and accused the KP provincial government of allowing political considerations to influence its approach to counterterrorism. He said the Balochistan government had supported the state's position against terrorism.
Chaudhry called on Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his party to clarify their position, saying the public and the families of fallen security personnel deserved answers regarding the political debate over terrorism and national security.
The remarks and allegations in this report are attributed to Barrister Danyal Chaudhry.
