Atta Tarar: KP Government Responsible for Maintaining Law and Order

Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar addressed a press conference in Peshawar, saying the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is responsible for maintaining law and order in the province. He urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to “come out of the world of TikTok,” alleging that government property had previously been damaged during protests. Tarar said peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but emphasized that protests must remain peaceful. He also described the people of KP as brave and resilient.

Tarar said he had visited the family of a police constable martyred in Kohat and met injured personnel at CMH Kohat. He said greater attention was needed toward the families of martyrs and that he had also met local elders to hear their concerns. Paying tribute to journalists affected by terrorism, he said the government would consider a martyrs’ package for journalists who are killed or injured in terrorist incidents.

Regarding political protests, Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken by telephone with the Jamaat-e-Islami chief and that a Jamaat-e-Islami delegation would meet the prime minister upon his return. He questioned the need for PTI to come to Islamabad, saying the party did not have a consistent record of peaceful protests. He also questioned whom negotiations should be held with within PTI, claiming Barrister Gohar lacked authority to make or implement decisions. Tarar said protest venues are provided to groups that demonstrate peacefully and contrasted PTI’s record with Jamaat-e-Islami, which, he said, leaves protest sites clean after demonstrations.