ISLAMABAD: The federal government claimed on Tuesday that it holds “credible evidence” showing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been in contact with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the details would be presented “very soon”.
The Tarar PTI TTP evidence claim came during a press briefing for foreign correspondents in Islamabad, where he appeared alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to defend the federal takeover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The government has credible evidence that PTI was in touch with the TTP. And very soon, we will be giving you evidence about the links that we have been able to uncover between the PTI and the TTP,” Tarar said.
Tarar alleged that the K-P provincial government had shown sympathy towards terrorist groups and had failed to support security personnel fighting them. He accused the PTI leadership of promoting a narrative that undermined law enforcement agencies, which he said had the effect of empowering militant groups, and paid tribute to personnel killed despite what he called insufficient backing from the province.
Ministers cite terror statistics to justify emergency
The information minister said 3,774 terrorist incidents were recorded in 2025, with 2,857 up to September 2026. Fatalities rose from 267 in 2021 to 3,512 in 2025, while the 2026 figure had reached 2,775 at the time of the briefing. He claimed attacks targeting police had risen by 168 per cent, with 18 police installations hit in two years.
The law minister gave the constitutional basis for the takeover. He said Article 232 covered emergencies where internal disturbances exceeded a provincial government’s control, while Article 234 covered the failure of constitutional machinery. The proclamation let the federal government run provincial affairs or delegate them to the governor, with the chief minister and ministers ceasing to hold office.
He said such provisions had been invoked on nine or 10 occasions by elected governments, and that the move needed parliamentary approval, including a joint sitting for Article 234, with a maximum of six months under that article.
K-P’s terrorist-related incidents stood at roughly 2,900 during 2021-24 but rose to about 8,600 during 2024-26, a 195 per cent rise. Tarar questioned why the province’s almost Rs800 billion NFC allocation had not funded a new counter-terrorism force, Safe City cameras and forensic laboratories. He cited the suicide attack that killed nine customs officials, alleged the province had skipped Apex Committee meetings, and said “one country cannot have two foreign policies”, referring to K-P’s approach towards Afghanistan.
The government had already imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the prime minister has formed an 11-member panel to monitor the province. Federal minister Amir Muqam addressed the move at a Peshawar press conference.
Tarar PTI TTP evidence claim follows ‘B-team’ rhetoric
The Tarar PTI TTP evidence claim is the sharpest in a series of escalating accusations. On 10 October, the minister had labelled PTI the TTP’s “B team” at an Islamabad press conference, accusing it of bad governance and of letting law and order collapse in K-P.
The ministers also outlined an administrative structure for 12 conflict-affected districts under the Area Representative and Development Council. Yahya Akhunzada will serve as administrator, supported by a chairman, vice-chairman, council members, spokespersons and an additional chief secretary, with portfolios covering policing, narcotics control, legal affairs, tribal affairs and revenue.
Asked why the provisions had not been invoked in Balochistan, Azam said the two provinces had been assessed differently. He said the Balochistan chief minister had been actively engaging security agencies, visiting affected areas and meeting injured people and bereaved families.
Tarar said the government would pursue the alleged PTI-TTP links through the relevant process, repeating that further evidence would be presented at a later stage.
The development comes as Islamabad has been pressing the Afghan Taliban over terrorist sanctuaries, with the foreign minister warning about the costs of terrorism.
FAQs
What did Tarar claim about PTI and the TTP?
Attaullah Tarar claimed the federal government had “credible evidence” that PTI had been in contact with the banned TTP, as reported by the Express Tribune. He also alleged the K-P government had sympathised with terrorist groups and failed to back security personnel.
Has the government presented the evidence?
No. The ministers repeated that the proof would come at a later stage, so the claim stands as an allegation for now.
What is the legal basis for the K-P emergency?
Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, invoked together. Article 232 covers emergencies where internal disturbances exceed provincial control; Article 234 covers the failure of constitutional machinery.
Who is running Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now?
Under the proclamation, the federal government runs provincial affairs or delegates them to the governor, with a new setup for 12 conflict-affected districts led by administrator Yahya Akhunzada.
