Minister rules out governor's rule in K-P

The federal information minister on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of imposing governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province, whose ruling party, the PTI, plans to march on Islamabad on September 27 to seek the release of incarcerated party founder Imran Khan. Addressing a press conference in K-P's provincial capital, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar clarified that the federal government had no plans to remove the PTI government. "The province needs people's rule not the governor's rule," he said. A day earlier, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, while responding to a question during a press conference in Lahore, stated that the government had already made it clear to the PTI that the prime minister, in consultation with our law ministry, would utilise whatever legal options were available. The minister said the PTI talked about dialogue, but it was unclear with which responsible person in the party the federal government should engage. "The government has repeatedly offered talks. Political tensions can only be resolved through dialogue and constitutional and legal means," he added. Tarar reiterated that the PTI would not be allowed to disrupt law and order in Islamabad, rejecting what he described as politics of violence and confrontation. "We reject the politics of violence and confrontation," he said, adding that nobody would be allowed to block roads or affect citizens' rights in violation of Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders. The minister said If the provincial government believed that people had voted for it to secure the release of an imprisoned individual, such an approach could take the province decades backward. Tarar said the release of the person—former prime minister Imran Khan—for whom "illegal means" were allegedly being adopted could only take place in accordance with the law. Criticising the K-P government, the federal minister said the same party had been in power in the province for a long time, but he did not see significant development work there. He said questions should also be raised about issues relating to deforestation and mining. He said the people were paying taxes but were not receiving the facilities that fell within the provincial government's responsibilities. "The chief minister's job is to serve the province, improve governance and provide facilities to the people, not to incite them for protest activities," Tarar said. He also questioned the absence of provincial government leaders from the funerals of security personnel and civilians martyred in terrorist incidents. "Public resources should not be spent on rallies, processions and protest activities by the PTI. Public resources should be spent on the public," he said. Tarar said the K-P government had been provided a substantial amount under the National Finance Commission for the National Action Plan and should give a complete account of its utilisation. Referring to the Kohat incident, Tarar said counterterrorism operations would continue and nobody would be allowed to disturb peace and order. He claimed that evidence had emerged that Afghan territory was being used in some terrorist incidents and said Pakistan had responded to it.