PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif on Wednesday blamed the federal and Punjab governments for fanning flames of hatred due to their inveterate hatred against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
In a statement, Saif took aim at the government which he said was involved in racial profiling of Pakhtuns in the twin cities.
“Whoever speaks Pashto is pushed into a prison van. The government is targeting poor Pakhtuns by associating them with the PTI,” he added
He also criticised the Awami National Party (ANP) leadership without naming by saying that so-called nationalist parties had maintained a criminal silence in this regard.
“Ridiculing Afghan nationals is tantamount to spreading resentment between two countries. Afghans are our Muslim brothers, and their protection is our responsibility. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be directly affected if relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan turn cold,” he concluded.
Earlier, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif has stated that while they believe in dialogue — having negotiated even with the Tehreek-e-Taliban — currently, there are no talks underway with the government and protests will continue, media reported.
Speaking to the media in Peshawar alongside Shibli Faraz, he said, “the govt has filed false cases against us. Six cases have been registered against me. We have protested before, and we will continue to do so until this illegitimate government is ousted.”
He asserted that traveling to Islamabad is every citizen’s right, and PTI founder Imran Khan has made it clear that the protests will continue. “Sit-ins, rallies, and demonstrations are all part of a movement, and we have the right to protest anywhere.”
Barrister Saif emphasized, “I have always been a proponent of dialogue. It was I who initiated talks with the Taliban. We have even held negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban. We believe in dialogue, but no talks are currently happening. If Imran Khan permits, we will engage in negotiations.”
Criticizing the government, Barrister Saif said, “These fake individuals call us instigators. They should not talk about democracy. The real instigators are those who opened fire on unarmed citizens while negotiations were ongoing.”
Commenting on law and order, the K-P spokesperson said, “Security is a regional issue. Since 1979, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has faced law and order challenges stemming from Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan. –Agencies
