Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar accused on Sunday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of inciting violence at the Bannu peace rally to blame the army.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which is under PTI control, cannot be trusted to conduct a fair inquiry into the recent violence.
Tarar labeled PTI as a terrorist party and pledged that it would be brought to justice. He mentioned that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has assured support to the government on invoking Article 6 against PTI leaders.
He claimed that PTI's history is marred by chaos and violence, citing the 2014 attack on Pakistan Television (PTV) headquarters during a PTI sit-in, which he alleged was celebrated by PTI leaders.
PTI accused of inciting violence
Tarar asserted that PTI has a pattern of seeking chaos and even loss of life to further its political agenda. He accused PTI of inciting violence during a peace march of traders in Bannu, where PTI allegedly spurred participants to open fire, resulting in casualties.
He said, "These people are always looking for dead bodies," accusing PTI of planning to kill their own members to blame the government.
Tarar also commented on the current jail conditions of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, stating that Khan enjoys modern facilities and that the government has not ordered any mistreatment.
Attack on Pakistani consulate in Germany
In another significant remark, Tarar addressed the recent attack on the Pakistani consulate in Germany. The Foreign Office has lodged a protest with German authorities and demanded the arrest of those involved. Tarar warned that any Pakistani found guilty would have their passport revoked.
Tarar reiterated that PTI's efforts to destabilize Pakistan would not succeed. He accused Imran Khan of bringing terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan during his tenure, leading to the current surge in terrorism.
Responding to queries about the recent internet shutdown, Tarar clarified that it was a global issue and not related to government action.
Attaullah Tarar did not hold back in his criticism of PTI, accusing its leaders of being sympathetic to the Taliban and fostering violence. He condemned the narrative promoted by PTI on social media, which he said falsely blames the army for firing on civilians.
He emphasized the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers, noting that on July 15, eight soldiers were martyred. Tarar accused PTI of attempting to frame the army for civilian deaths to fuel their political agenda.
The Federal Information Minister concluded by stating that PTI's attempts to incite violence and chaos in Pakistan have been ongoing since 2014. He reiterated the government's resolve to hold PTI accountable and called for a united front against the party's disruptive tactics.
