SWAT: Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Eng Amir Muqam here on Sunday said that Pakistan Tahrik-i-Insaf failed to address problems of people despite its third consecutive term in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in Sangota, he alleged that PTI deceived people in the name of so-called change. He said that unnecessary exercises and experiments ruined health and education sectors in the province.

Mr Muqam, who is also provincial president of PML-N, said that instead to focusing on resolution of people’s problems, governance and improvement in health and education sectors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taxpayers’ money was being used on the uncalled for agitation and irrational politics by the PTI leadership.

He advised the chief minister to hold public meetings in southern districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa where law and order situation was deteriorating and people could not leave their homes after evening.

The minister said that besides maladministration and poor governance, cases of corruption were surfacing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said recent allegations of corruption by provincial ministers and advisers against each other exposed the anti-corruption claims of rulers of the province.

He said the chief minister lacked vision for welfare of people as politics of agitation was his main focus. He said that PTI protest rallies and hooliganism were tantamount to treason against the state. He alleged that KP government resources were used in PTI public gatherings in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Mr Muqam claimed that people knew that protestors were working on a foreign agenda. He said that chief minister had no authority to hold talks with Afghan government on any issue rather it was mandate of federal government.

He said that federal government adopted zero tolerance against terrorism and no one would be allowed to disrupt peace of Swat again. He said that people of Swat and security forces rendered great sacrifices in the war against terrorism that paved the way of restoration of peace in the area.

The minister said that law and order was the top priority of federal government and targeted action would be taken whenever terrorists were found in the country. He said that he also survived attempts on his life and continued to raise voice for peace in the country including Swat.

He asked KP chief minister to compete with chief minister of Punjab in terms of good governance and service to people. He said that PTI workers were being misled through hallow slogans.

Mr Muqam said that roads infrastructure in Swat was deteriorated owing to poor policies of provincial government that affected tourism, trade and development.

He also congratulated Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif for his successful participation in the United Nations General Assembly. He said that prime minister won hearts and minds of Pakistanis, Kashmiris and Palestinians for highlighting their issues at UN.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024