Asif rules out any concessions to PTI 'under pressure'
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday ruled out any concessions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) under pressure, warning that the government would not bow to a long march or what he described...
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday ruled out any concessions to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) under pressure, warning that the government would not bow to a long march or what he described as the party’s attempts to “blackmail” the state. Speaking to media at Parliament House, the minister accused PTI of acting in concert with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alleging that the party had adopted a confrontational approach towards the government while terrorists operated freely in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“PTI has declared war against Pakistan together with the TTP,” Mr Asif alleged, dismissing as “wishful thinking” the notion that a long march could force the government to accept its demands. “The government cannot be blackmailed by them under any circumstances,” he said, alleging that PTI had made a practice of “attacking Islamabad” every few months.
The defence minister also questioned PTI’s position on the TTP and its alleged Afghan patrons, asking the party to produce any statement condemning the militant group or those whom he accused of sponsoring it. “The rulers of Kabul are patrons of the TTP,” he alleged, challenging PTI to show a statement against them.
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Mr Asif claimed terrorists were being financed and operating openly in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that the provincial government had little or no writ in those areas. He questioned the presence and role of the KP chief minister in the province while terrorists allegedly operated there, describing the situation as a serious issue for the country.
The minister said what he termed links and coordination between the groups were becoming increasingly apparent, calling the alleged conduct “dishonesty against the country and Pakistan”. Referring to previous remarks by a senior PTI leader about causing destruction in Islamabad, Mr Asif said the statement reflected the party’s broader sentiments.
“If they resort to blackmail, I see no relief for [Imran Khan] in the future,” he warned, making it clear that the government would not provide relief to the PTI founder under pressure. Mr Asif urged PTI to return to the negotiating table, end confrontation with the federal government and concentrate on running Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Come to the negotiating table and return home; take care of your province,” he said, while calling on the party to stop supporting terrorists and cut off their financing. “Forget that you will force us to accept your demands at gunpoint,” he added. The defence minister also referred to opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s recent remarks about visiting former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s residence in Murree.
Mr Asif said Mr Achakzai had an old relationship with the Sharif family and described him as a second-generation political worker. “I will certainly ask Mahmood Khan to play his role,” he said, urging the opposition leader to speak for Pakistan and its integrity. Mr Asif called for a collective response to militancy, saying all political forces should join hands in confronting what he described as Afghanistan-sponsored terrorism.
Article text via FreeNewsAPI. Rights remain with Pakistan Today.
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