Mohsin Naqvi Blames Afridi, Murad Saeed for Failed PTI Deal
Senate Briefed on Failed PTI Talks and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Security Situation
Speaking during a Senate session, Naqvi said the government had attempted to reach an understanding with PTI before considering the imposition of Governor’s Rule or a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the minister, the initial round of discussions focused exclusively on counterterrorism, with no political matters raised during the meeting.
Naqvi said PTI leader Asad Qaiser had assured government representatives that his party would cooperate in efforts to combat terrorism and was prepared to take an even stronger position than the federal government.
“Asad Qaiser said they would stand at the forefront for Pakistan,” Naqvi told the Senate.
The interior minister said he subsequently highlighted differences between Qaiser’s position and that of the provincial government, advising him to consult the party leadership before moving forward.
Six Amendments Incorporated Into Proposed Agreement
Naqvi said the government contacted PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar on October 10 and asked him to identify the changes required in Paragraph 4 of the proposed agreement.
Following consultations with PTI representatives, six amendments were incorporated into the draft, he added.
According to Naqvi, the government’s negotiating team kept Chief Minister Sohail Afridi informed throughout the process. Afridi, in turn, remained in contact with Murad Saeed.
The minister claimed that the draft agreement was sent to the chief minister, who subsequently forwarded it to Murad Saeed. The negotiations broke down after this stage, he said.
“Two days of our hard work went to waste,” Naqvi told lawmakers.
He questioned why PTI representatives had participated in the negotiations if they lacked the authority to finalise an agreement on behalf of their party.
Naqvi maintained that the government would not have needed to consider Governor’s Rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had the proposed agreement been completed.
Government Defends Consideration of Governor’s Rule
The interior minister said the government had possessed the option of imposing an emergency or Governor’s Rule on November 26 and on earlier occasions but had refrained from exercising that authority.
He described the current decision-making process as difficult, stressing that the government had not considered such measures lightly.
Naqvi Raises Concerns Over Terrorism in KP
Addressing the security situation, Naqvi claimed that 80 per cent of those involved in the current wave of terrorism were arriving from Afghanistan. He added that authorities lacked information about the tribal affiliations or identities of many suspected militants.
The minister also criticised the previous provincial government’s response to terrorist attacks, alleging that federal officials attended the funerals of security personnel while provincial representatives were absent.
He expressed concern over what he described as a contrast between the sacrifices made by security personnel and the political statements subsequently directed against them.
Naqvi further alleged that several individuals within PTI had links to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He said the government would present evidence to support these claims at an appropriate time.
The allegations concerning PTI and the breakdown of negotiations were presented by Naqvi during his Senate address. The claims regarding alleged militant links and the reported proportion of militants arriving from Afghanistan were not independently substantiated in the information provided.
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