Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, has said that Sohail Afridi is in protective custody and has not been arrested. He also claimed that the status of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly had been suspended.
Speaking on Tonight with Samar Abbas, Tarar alleged that some individuals had links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said authorities had evidence of these alleged connections but offered no further details in the reported remarks.
Tarar Makes Allegations Against Sohail Afridi
According to Tarar, Afridi visited several locations during his tours and spoke about asking militants to look after his associates. The minister claimed that such actions put people’s lives at risk for political purposes.
Tarar also accused Afridi of failing to prevent terrorism in the province. However, these remain the minister’s allegations and do not independently establish wrongdoing by Afridi.
Claim About a Planned Attack on Governor House
The information minister further claimed that PTI workers had planned to set fire to the Governor House and damage the property. However, he said supporters did not turn out to carry out the alleged plan.
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Tarar also claimed that Shafi Jan had fled, leaving no one to lead the long march. He described Afridi as politically weakened and alleged that the chief minister had lost direction during his travels across the province.
Tarar Rules Out an In-House Change
Tarar said the KP Assembly’s status had been suspended. He also ruled out the possibility of an in-house change in the province.
Instead, the minister said a new administrative setup would run KP. He further claimed that Afridi would not return.
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National Assembly Session and May 9 Cases
Tarar announced that the government would convene a National Assembly session on Tuesday. He also criticised the KP government’s handling of terrorism, alleging that the provincial administration had not taken the issue seriously.
Furthermore, he questioned the provincial government’s intentions regarding counterterrorism efforts. Tarar also said authorities would try to arrest individuals who remain absconding in cases related to the May 9, 2023, events.
