PTI and banned TTP two sides of same coin, claims Akhtiar Wali

In his statement, Akhtiar Wali Khan claimed that the PTI had made the TTP its militant wing and the TTP had made the PTI its political wing. He said evidence of links between the PTI and terrorist organisations could not be ignored.

He said a young man seen in a video with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi the previous day belonged to a banned organisation. Such elements, he said, were involved in attacks on mosques and the public, and in the torture of women and children.

Akhtiar Wali Khan also accused the PTI of funding, sponsoring and facilitating terrorist organisations. He said photographs of Zakirullah existed with several PTI MNAs and MPAs.

He claimed there was evidence that outlawed elements had taken part in PTI marches, rallies and sit-ins. He said one reason for the security measures taken during the PTI protest in Islamabad was the threat from terrorist elements.

Akhtiar Wali Khan said serious questions were also being raised about the present government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He alleged that the provincial government was working as a representative of banned organisations. He demanded that PTI leaders clarify their position on whether they were aware or unaware of these activities and incidents.

He also called on Junaid Akbar to clarify his position on the activities and affairs in the province. He said PTI political leaders should say where they stood on incidents and activities of terrorism, and on what grounds they rejected the alleged evidence.

Akhtiar Wali Khan asked what justification there was for the onslaught on Islamabad and for incidents such as 9 May in the name of “love for the founder”. He said incidents such as those of October and 26 November were also repeated under the same pretext.

Expressing concern over the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said incidents of terrorism and martyrdoms were rising in the province. According to him, responsibility for law and order in the province lay with the government and the cabinet. He said the government must fulfil its duty to uphold the rule of law.

Akhtiar Wali Khan said the matter had gone beyond social media and TikTok. He said this practice could not be allowed to continue in Pakistan. He urged all political parties and stakeholders to clarify their positions.

He also asked PTI workers who believed in democracy, the law and peace to state their position. Akhtiar Wali Khan said the politics of chaos in the guise of marches and rallies would no longer be accepted. He said political parties would have to answer to the nation about their ties and affiliations.