Allegations that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf holds a soft corner for the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, coupled with accusations that it is willing to push the country toward instability in its pursuit of power, are not new. However, their endorsement by voices from Pakistan’s serious and informed circles has raised fresh concern.
Senior investigative journalist Umar Cheema has claimed that PTI has an undisclosed relationship with the banned militant outfit, a connection he said the party does not want to make public. Speaking on a private television programme, Cheema remarked that PTI should openly announce an alliance with the TTP, suggesting that recent developments point toward an understanding between the two.
He cited an appearance by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Shafi Jan, noting that the spokesperson was unable to speak clearly against the TTP. According to Cheema, this reluctance reinforces the perception that PTI and the militant group have some form of agreement that is being kept hidden, adding that it has now become apparent to many that the two appear aligned.
Cheema further said that former prime minister Imran Khan had previously spoken about allowing offices for militants, and questioned why PTI, which governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, does not clarify its stance in this regard. He also criticized the party for lacking a concrete plan to eliminate terrorism.
He argued that if PTI has no clear counterterrorism strategy of its own, it must explain the basis on which it opposes security operations. Cheema maintained that militant groups have historically exploited negotiations to their advantage, warning that ambiguity and mixed messaging only embolden extremist elements.
