Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Monday accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of failing to cooperate with the Centre and state institutions in the ongoing war against terrorism. Speaking to the media, Chaudhry stated that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was not cooperating in efforts to prevent terrorism and that KP was the only province not following Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan.
His remarks follow statements made last week by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who urged the PTI to clarify its stance amid deadly terror attacks across the province. Tarar alleged that the PTI-led KP government refuses to take ownership of counterterrorism operations, adding that they have facilitated terrorists over the past 12 years.
Chaudhry revealed that the federal government is considering imposing an emergency in KP due to the prevailing situation. The political tensions coincide with the breakdown of government-opposition talks aimed at averting the PTI's planned October 4 long march towards Islamabad.
The negotiations ended in a deadlock between Saturday and Sunday as both sides accused each other of sabotage. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the KP CM of attempting to sabotage the talks, while PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed the failure stemmed from federal demands that KP own unilateral anti-terrorism actions.
Amid the fallout, the PTI proceeded with its October 4 long march towards Islamabad.