Peshawar: Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam here Monday said the federal government was ready for negotiations, but there will be no discussion on the release of PTI founder who was convicted by the courts.
Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Engr Amir Muqam strongly criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for its poor performance and non resolution of masses problems.
He claimed that CM Afridi and his party lacked public support in KP and that is why they postponed the long march call.
Muqam accused Sohail Afridi of misleading the public, adding he could not decive people any more on mere slogans. He predicted that the chief minister KP would soon be in jail due to his negative politicking.
The federal minister said the government was willing to hold talks but made it clear that the release of former prime minister and PTI founder would not be part of the negotiations.
‘PTI founder has been convicted. The sentence was handed down by the courts, and his release is not in our hands,’ Muqam said.
He said negotiations could take place according to an established procedure, but the talks could not remain focused solely on the release of one prisoner.
‘If PTI founder was sentenced by the courts, how can we release him? His release is possible only through the courts; it is not in our hands,’ he said.
Engr Amir Muqam also accused PTI of facilitating the resettlement of militants in KP and said the party was still advocating negotiations with militants and their resettlement despite terrorist attacks on our security forces and civilians.
He claimed that PTI leaders were freely moving around the country and conducting political activities without fear of terrorist attacks.
‘Leaders of all parties except PTI have faced and continue to face terrorists attacks, but surprisingly, PTI does not appear to have any fear,’ he said.
Engr Amir Muqam said PTI had showed lack of concern about security threats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where cases of terrorism increased.
He said the province was facing monster challenge of terrorism while civilians and law-enforcement personnel continued to make sacrifices while CM Sohail Afridi was concentrating on long march.
The federal minister also described the Sohail Afridi-led provincial government as a complete failure on all fronts, claiming that it had neglected public welfare and that loot and plunder as well as corruption was widespread in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the situation in the province’s hospitals and schools was particularly poor and peoples problems increased manifolds during PTI’s 13 years rule.
Engr Amir Muqam urged the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to question the provincial government about their rights and the state of local government institutions.
He claimed that CM Afridi was leading aimless political activities morning and evening and was not giving sufficient attention to running the province.
‘His time is now running out. Sohail Afridi will soon be in jail instead of Islamabad,’ Muqam said.
Engr Amir Muqam also claimed that CM Afridi did not enjoy public support and that voters had rejected him. Referring to PTI’s announced protest campaign, he said the party had claimed it would bring out four million people but postponed the march at the last moment due to lack of public support even in Peshawar.
‘Four million is a distant prospect; they cannot even bring out 1,000 people, and they are unnecessarily causing hardship to ordinary citizens,’ he said.
Referring to the events of May 9 and November 26, Engr Amir Muqam said what happened on those occasions was known to everyone and claimed that similar negative plans were still being pursued.
Asked about the possibility of imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engr Amir Muqam said the Constitution and law provided such mechanism and that circumstances of of Governor rule is existed in KP where CM Afridi Govt was not running his Govt under the law and constitution.
However, he said no decision had been discussed for the time being regarding governor’s rule, nor had there been any discussion about removing or retaining the Governor KP.
To a question, Engr Amir Muqam suggested All Parties Conference to address KP problems.
He said that politcal unity was required to counter menace of terrorism.
Engr Amir Muqam said he had face several terrorists attacks with courage.