Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar on Monday accused a jailed political leader of being the chief sponsor of terror, saying that during that leader’s tenure the National Action Plan was dismantled and militants were allowed to return and regroup.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said the recent London court decision was a defeat for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf faction and a rebuke to forces that seek to destabilise the country. He vowed that elements who foster instability will not be tolerated, and described the PTI network as facilitators of terrorism.
Tarar alleged that security and logistical support for militant groups continued from inside custody, and that these networks benefited from protection during the jailed leader’s period in power. He said the federal government will not permit those who target unarmed civilians to find impunity.
The minister named Suhail Afridi as a figure brought in to aid terrorism facilitation, and suggested political calculations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa revolved around those same networks. He also alleged that former officials were removed from office because they failed to meet the expectations of those seeking to shield militants.
Tarar criticised past remarks by the jailed leader that advocated negotiating with certain armed actors and bringing them back into the fold, arguing that such approaches ignored the groups’ record of attacks on schools and places of worship. He accused the PTI leadership of celebrating or excusing insurgents in the past.
On the issue of provincial politics, the minister said that nominations and appointments were influenced by ties to militant facilitators, and that some officials were promoted despite concerns about their sympathies for armed groups. He specifically referenced tensions between provincial figures over perceived failures in handling those networks.
Tarar also paid tribute to security forces and the families of fallen soldiers. He said the nation honours its martyrs and praised senior leaders for attending funerals and standing with bereaved families. He added that Pakistan’s security policy will be decided in Islamabad, not in Kabul or elsewhere.
In a separate social media post, the minister asserted that international and legal forums have repeatedly rejected state-subverting narratives linked to the PTI, and described the London ruling as vindication for Pakistan.
The accusations come amid a broader political standoff between the federal government and PTI supporters, and follow legal and diplomatic developments that have intensified scrutiny of allegations that political actors provided facilitation to militant groups. Independent verification of Tarar’s claims was not immediately available.
