Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday dismissed claims linking the party to terrorism, reiterating that it views terrorism as a grave national threat that should remain above political exploitation.
The statements were issued during a press conference in Islamabad, addressed by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, senior party leader Salman Akram Raja and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser.
Barrister Gohar Ali said, In his remarks, “The PTI’s stance has always been that terrorism is a menace and it is a national responsibility to eliminate it from its roots.
“Our stance has always been that there should be no politics on terrorism. In fact, we need a singular stance and narrative on terrorism,” he said, adding that the party and its leadership had always condemned terrorism.
“To say that the PTI and its government in KP is uncooperative is inappropriate and far from the truth,” he said, highlighting that a grand jirga was held on the matter in the province in October.
“Terrorists do not have a religion, nationality or boundaries. They do not differ between men and women. They attack our mosques, Eidgahs and we condemn each and every attack,” he said.
He said that at this time it was “inappropriate and dangerous” to ask why the PTI was not targeted by terrorists.
“We believe that any time someone comes under a terrorist attack, the whole of the country is targeted,” he said.
“If tackling terrorism requires a more serious approach, then the support of Twitter and press conferences should not be taken for labelling allegations. Present your argument in the relevant forums,” he said.
He added that the PTI government in KP had increased the capacity of the province’s police force and also spent Rs40 billion for this purpose.
He stated that the top priority of the PTI and its government in KP was protecting the life and property of its people. “And there can be no compromise on this, nor has there been,” he said.
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