Minister Attaullah Tarar says Sohail Afridi in protective custody

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that Sohail Afridi is in safe custody and has not been arrested and the status of the provincial assembly has been suspended.

Tarar stated that there was evidence of link of some individuals with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “Such acts put lives at risk for political objectives,” he said, adding Afridi was going to different places and talking to militants to care after their friends.

The federal minister also criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for its handling of terrorism, saying the province administration has not taken the issue seriously.

Tarar also claimed that the workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had a plot to set fire and vandalize the Governor House but the public did not turn up for the purported plan.

He said Shafi Jan had also departed and there was no one left to lead the long march proposed. Tarar termed Afridi as politically weak and condemned his operations in the province.

Talking about the provincial political scenario, Tarar said the suspension of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was a foregone conclusion and ruled out the idea of an in-house change. He added that the province would be managed by a new administrative set-up and said Afridi’s return was not under discussion.

The minister said added that the National Assembly would hold a session on Tuesday. Again he lashed out at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for not taking terrorism seriously and having dubious motives.

Tarar said that the government will attempt to apprehend anyone who were on the run in connection with the May 9 instances.