K-P rejects federal white paper allegations

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has categorically rejected the allegations levelled against it in a white paper issued by federal ministers. Provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan said the province is itself a victim of terrorism, with its people sacrificing lives, yet it continues to face taunts and accusations. Addressing a press conference in the company of Special Assistant for Home Tariq Saeed, Shafi Jan said the federal government is engaged in a misadventure and that the real issue is not terrorism but Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. "If an attempt is made to impose Governor's Rule, the people of the province will lay siege to the Governor's House," he warned. He alleged that federal ministers have been continuously spreading propaganda against the provincial government, with ministers assigned duties to hold press conferences against K-P and being given the same script. "We reject the white paper issued against the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. There is no truth in what has been stated in it," he said. Shafi Jan questioned why Governor's Rule or an emergency was not first imposed in Balochistan, where the Nawaz League is in power, if terrorism is the concern. "Did terrorism begin during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's tenure? When the PTI government was formed in 2013, peace was established in this province. PTI also staged a sit-in against drone attacks," he said, adding that imposing Governor's Rule is no joke. "If Governor's Rule is imposed, the Governor House will first be besieged. If the people's mandate is snatched, the people of the province will come out on the streets and then they will not be able to raise their heads again." He stressed that anti-terrorism policy is formulated by the federation, not the provincial government. "If there is terrorism, then your policy has failed. We keep saying do not take decisions behind closed doors. The people sitting in Islamabad who take these decisions have never even visited Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. What do they know about this province? There is still time to sit and talk. Formulate policy in consultation with those affected by terrorism. But their problem is not terrorism, it is Sohail Afridi. The federal government's intentions as well as its temperament are not right." Referring to threats received after the announcement of a long march on 27 September, Shafi Jan said they would not come out in the streets with sticks. "This country and the army belong to us. It is the policy of the Nawaz League to pit institutions against the PTI, but we will foil their conspiracy. We have already made payments to federal institutions for the purchase of arms, yet we are not being provided the equipment. We are Pakistanis and will remain with Pakistan." He also criticised a statement by Maryam Nawaz that Punjab faces a threat not from India but from neighbouring provinces. "They have no idea what fire they are playing with. They are afraid that on 4 October the people will come out on the streets. Do not call us terrorists, that is an abuse for us. Our body is wounded because of terrorism. We have given lives and still have to listen to taunts."