Centre, KP govt trade barbs over Bannu incident

ISLAMABAD, JUL 21: The federal government accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of politicising the Bannu incident and that the members of the party were also attending the protest rally, an allegation swiftly rejected by the opposition party. 

“A political party [PTI] tried to spoil the peaceful rally and tried to protest there,” said Information Minister Attaullah Tarar while speaking to Geo News on Saturday. 

Tarar’s statement comes after civilians were killed in a firing incident in Bannu, while several were injured during a protest rally against the worsening law and order.

The protest was staged on the call of the trader community and a complete shutter-down strike was observed. They were demanding action against the armed groups operating in the city and its adjoining areas.

Recalling the deaths and injuries during the protest, the information minister said that many armed men were involved in the protest who opened fire which lead to civilians fatalities. 

Tarar said that PTI founder Imran Khan should have condemned the incident, adding that his statement claimed that there was direct firing in the protest rally. 

“A conspiracy was hatched and an attempt was made to defame the security agencies. [They] are uploading pictures of children belonging to another country and claiming that the people were martyred by direct firing,” said the minister. 

Stressing that the government has noted everything, Tarar said that the situation in Bannu is returning to normal but fake news is being spread. “Some political forces want to take advantage of this and sabotage it,” he added. 

The information minister, while speaking about KP government’s decision to form a commission to probe the incident, said some people of the opposition party were present in the rally. 

“The government there should not have the right to investigate it themselves. Their own people were involved who joined the protest, how can they do justice?” he questioned. 

The KP government on Saturday announced to form a commission to conduct a transparent investigation into the Bannu incident. 

Tarar’s statement ‘stupid, ridiculous’: KP govt

Meanwhile, KP Information Adviser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif denied Tarar’s allegations, terming his statement as “stupid and ridiculous”. 

“No member of the PTI was involved in Bannu protest,” said Barrister Saif, adding that the PTI founder and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur have condemned the incident. 

“Attaullah Tarar’s statement is a sinister attempt to worsen the situation. Bannu is a sensitive area and there was a terrorist attack a few days ago wherein soldiers and soldiers and civilians were martyred,” he highlighted. 

Saif said that the government was politicising the incident instead of ending terrorism. “These people deserve jails, not power,” he said.