PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan has warned that the provincial government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers would surround the Governor House if governor’s rule was imposed in the province.

Talking to the media in Peshawar, Shafi urged the federal government to work with the provincial government to address terrorism, saying decisions should not be taken behind closed doors without consulting KP.

“Our doors are open. Come together and resolve the issue of terrorism,” he said, accusing the federal government of attempting to create a confrontation between state institutions and PTI.

Shafi also criticised Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, urging him to visit Balochistan and offer condolences to the families of those killed in recent incidents.

The provincial minister said the KP government was being asked to choose between Pakistan and Afghanistan, rejecting what he described as attempts to question the province’s patriotism.

“We are Pakistanis and Pakistan is our blood,” Shafi said, adding that Pakistan was part of their faith and they would protect every inch of the country.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, claiming that 80,000 people from the province had been martyred.

Shafi also rejected claims that the province had received Rs500 billion under the war on terror, calling the figure incorrect. He alleged that funds had been provided to the federal government to acquire weapons and technology for the Counter Terrorism Department.

He said the provincial government did not want to confront state institutions but would respond if its loyalty to Pakistan was questioned.

On negotiations with militants, Shafi questioned what he described as a double standard, arguing that talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were considered acceptable when conducted by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), but criticised when others advocated dialogue.

“We had warned beforehand when the Taliban were returning,” he said.

The minister accused the federal government of creating tensions in the province and reiterated that decisions concerning KP should be made in consultation with its elected government.

PTI march on October 4

Speaking about PTI’s planned march on Islamabad, Shafi said the party had been fully prepared for its long march, but the decision to change the date was part of its political strategy and would give workers additional time to prepare.

He said the PTI march would depart for Islamabad on the morning of October 4 and could take six to seven days to reach the federal capital.

Shafi said the party remained open to negotiations and maintained that political issues could be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.