Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of adopting a lenient stance towards terrorists, alleging that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is more focused on creating uproar over a tribal jirga than addressing the worsening law and order situation in the province.
Speaking to the media, Talal Chaudhry said that while proposals have been received, the federal government will take the provincial government on board when deemed appropriate. “Formulating foreign policy is the sole prerogative of the federation,” he stated, adding that PTI continues to maintain a soft corner for terrorists.
The minister further criticized PTI’s absence from a high-level meeting on national security, remarking that most incidents of terrorism have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, yet the provincial leadership remains preoccupied with the jirga issue instead of countering terrorism effectively.
Talal Chaudhry alleged that the founder of PTI had directed the KP government to improve ties with Afghanistan, and that Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had announced the formation of a jirga comprising tribal elders, religious scholars, and businessmen to be sent to Afghanistan.
He maintained that national security and foreign relations fall strictly under federal jurisdiction, and any unilateral moves by the KP government risk undermining the state’s cohesive counter-terrorism efforts.
