Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Saturday launched a sharp critique against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, pointing to what he described as a severe lack of governance and accountability in the province.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the information minister claimed that the provincial administration had received substantial financial support from the federal framework to strengthen security mechanisms but failed to deploy the resources effectively. Specifically, Tarar alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had been provided Rs700 billion under the National Finance Commission award to combat terrorism, yet left critical security institutions underfunded and unequipped.
Deficits in Counter-Terrorism Infrastructure
During the press briefing, Tarar questioned the provincial administration’s record on security reforms and counter-terrorism measures. He noted that despite the availability of designated funds, key initiatives aimed at institutional strengthening had not materialised.
“You did not upgrade the Counter Terrorism Department, did not establish forensic labs, did not install safe city cameras, which should be installed in the merged districts and all the entry-exit points of KP’s districts,” the minister said.
Tarar stated that rather than channelling resources into modernising law enforcement and intelligence capacities, the provincial leadership had redirected its focus and spending toward political demonstrations. He criticised the administration’s policy priorities, contrasting the time devoted to security management with political activity.
“You don’t even give half an hour to discuss the terrorism in the province; but you do six-hour meetings to spread turmoil and vandalism in the province,” he argued.
Public Services and Governance Concerns
Expanding his criticism to socioeconomic conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarar stated that the provincial government was failing to meet its basic responsibilities toward citizens while pursuing a partisan agenda centered on the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The information minister maintained that residents of the province were bearing the brunt of poor administrative oversight across healthcare, education, and development. According to Tarar, the provincial population had been left struggling with systemic challenges while resources were directed elsewhere.
“You trapped them in poverty, in disease by not providing the adequate health facilities, in ignorance by not providing educational opportunities, and in non-development by not improving infrastructure,” Tarar remarked.
Accusations of Extremist Facilitation
The federal minister also raised serious allegations regarding the provincial government’s approach to militant groups, claiming that authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had left the local populace vulnerable.
Tarar alleged that the provincial administration had held citizens “captive to terrorists” and went on to describe the political party in critical terms regarding its stance on security.
“From the very first day, this is my opinion that they are the B-team of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan,” Tarar said, further asserting that the party had facilitated militants in settling within the region.
