ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday strongly rejected allegations branding the party as “terrorist facilitators”, reiterating that it has consistently opposed terrorism and maintained that the issue must not be politicised.
The remarks were made during a press conference in Islamabad by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, alongside party leaders Salman Akram Raja and Asad Qaiser.
Addressing the media, Gohar said PTI’s position on terrorism had always been clear and unequivocal. “Terrorism is a menace, and it is a national responsibility to eradicate it from its roots,” he said, adding that the party has always advocated a single, unified narrative on counter-terrorism.
“Our stance has been that there should be no politics on terrorism. PTI and its leadership have condemned every act of terrorism,” he said, rejecting claims that the party or its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was uncooperative.
Gohar recalled that a grand jirga was held in KP in October to address the issue and said terrorists had no religion, nationality or boundaries. “They attack mosques and Eidgahs, and we condemn each and every attack,” he added.
He termed it “inappropriate and dangerous” to question why PTI was not being targeted by terrorists, saying any terrorist attack amounted to an attack on the entire country.
“If counter-terrorism requires a more serious approach, then allegations should not be levelled through social media or press conferences. Arguments should be presented in the relevant forums,” he said.
Gohar said the PTI-led KP government had increased the capacity of the provincial police force and spent Rs40 billion to strengthen law enforcement. He stressed that protecting the life and property of citizens remained the party’s top priority.
“Blaming us and targeting us through press conferences is widening the divide, which is harmful for the country at this critical time,” he warned, urging restraint.
Salman Akram Raja also termed the allegations “unfortunate” and categorically rejected claims that PTI or its founder Imran Khan were terrorist sympathisers. “Only a fool would sympathise with terrorists,” he said.
On military operations, Raja said PTI stood with the people and could not accept the displacement or killing of innocent civilians. He said the party had always offered to cooperate in formulating a counter-terrorism action plan.
Referring to the KP grand jirga, Raja said representatives of all political parties, religious scholars and intellectuals unanimously agreed that the existing counter-terrorism policy was flawed. “Bombs and explosives cannot create conditions for peace,” he said.
He stressed the need to bridge the trust deficit between the people of KP and state institutions, saying PTI was uniquely positioned to help narrow that gap. “PTI can bring people and institutions together for a national purpose,” he said.
Raja reiterated that dialogue was the party’s primary proposal, warning that failure to address the trust gap would keep the country unstable. He also maintained that no negotiations on terrorism or any other issue could take place without Imran Khan.
Asad Qaiser, recalling the grand jirga, said it was unanimously decided that any counter-terrorism policy formulated by the Centre must be done in consultation with the KP Assembly.
He noted a recent surge in terrorism and questioned the effectiveness of existing policies. “If a policy has repeatedly failed, it must be reviewed and revised,” he said.
Qaiser also criticised the federal government for not releasing development funds for KP, saying the approach was deepening resentment. He claimed PTI, which he described as the country’s largest political party, was being unfairly targeted.
“We are not being allowed to hold rallies, which is our constitutional right, and on top of that a campaign is being run against us,” he said.
Holding up a statement issued after the peace jirga, Qaiser said it reflected PTI’s core position. The statement condemned terrorism in KP and the merged districts and called for the use of all resources — in consultation with the provincial assembly and within the law — to eliminate militancy and restore peace.
“No political party in KP has remained safe from terrorism,” Qaiser added.
The press conference followed recent remarks by the military’s spokesperson, who alleged during a wide-ranging briefing that a political party in power in 2021 — widely seen as a reference to PTI — had “internally facilitated terrorists”.
Responding to questions about talks with the government, Barrister Gohar said no dialogue was currently under way with either the government or the establishment. However, he said Imran Khan had authorised Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas to decide whether talks would take place and with whom.
Raja echoed the stance, saying dialogue without Imran Khan’s involvement would be meaningless.
On the appointment of the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Gohar said a meeting with the speaker had been scheduled but could not take place as the speaker was out of Islamabad.
