PTI blames govt for collapse of KP talks

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has blamed the federal government’s position on counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the failure of negotiations between the government and opposition.

Raja said the talks broke down because the federal government wanted the KP administration to take responsibility for anti-terrorism measures that had been initiated unilaterally by the centre.

He said the PTI-Tehreek Tahaffuz Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) negotiating team had maintained that any counterterrorism strategy in the province should be developed through an agreement between the federal and provincial governments.

According to Raja, PTI also wanted all political parties represented in the KP Assembly to be consulted before major security decisions were taken. He said the party had made it clear that it opposed terrorism and supported efforts to eliminate the threat.

However, he stressed that counterterrorism operations should not result in innocent people losing their lives or being forced to leave their homes.

Raja said local communities must have confidence in security measures and that operations should be guided by reliable intelligence from the ground. He also called for the recommendations of a recent KP jirga to be considered.

The jirga brought together political leaders, tribal elders and other influential figures from across the province, including representatives from the merged tribal districts.

The disagreement emerged during negotiations aimed at preventing PTI’s planned October 4 march towards Islamabad. Two rounds of talks were held, but the sides failed to reach a final agreement.

Opposition representatives said differences also remained over a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and the party’s leadership, access to his personal doctor and details regarding military operations in areas where internally displaced people are present.

The government maintained that the KP administration must fulfil its constitutional responsibilities in the fight against terrorism. Officials also rejected any compromise on security-related matters.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi separately accused KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of derailing the negotiations at the final stage.

Naqvi claimed that almost all major issues had been settled and that a draft agreement had been prepared. He said the document was subsequently altered after Afridi’s intervention.

The minister said several versions of the draft were discussed and amended during the negotiations. He alleged that the final changes created obstacles to an agreement between the two sides.

Meanwhile, government officials have warned that PTI’s planned march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad if it results in unrest. The government has said any law-and-order situation will be handled according to the law.