ISLAMABAD, Oct 05 (APP): Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam on Monday said the long march planned by the PTI and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government would not be allowed to enter Punjab or Islamabad.
Addressing a press conference at the Kashmir Council alongside MNA Samar Haroon Bilour and Senator Zahid Khan, he urged the people of KP not to become “pawns” in what he termed the PTI’s political agenda.
Muqam questioned the purpose of the long march, saying it was being organized for political and personal gains rather than the welfare of the people of KP.
He alleged that the PTI government in KP was using protest politics to divert attention from poor governance and corruption in the province.
The minister said terrorism was a national issue and required a united response, adding that the situation in KP was deteriorating due to the lack of effective governance.
He criticized what he described as the KP government’s soft attitude towards terrorists, saying terrorism could not be eliminated without taking a firm position against militants.
Muqam said the KP chief minister had not openly condemned acts of terrorism or visited the families of security personnel martyred in the war against terrorism to offer condolences.
Referring to recent negotiations between the government and opposition, he said an agreement had been reached to issue a joint statement, but the process was disrupted after the KP chief minister announced continuation of the long march.
He also questioned the recent provincial assembly resolution concerning the police, saying such measures could demoralize the force.
The minister said the people had already witnessed protests on May 9 and during the attempted siege of Islamabad, questioning what the proposed march would achieve when its organizers knew they would not be allowed to enter Islamabad or Punjab.
He said the federal government would continue to protect the people of KP and work to rid the province of terrorism.
Muqam said the federal government had consistently supported KP on public issues and raised matters relating to PATA and FATA at the legislative and cabinet levels.
He urged the people not to become victims of protest politics, saying ordinary citizens suffered most from such activities.
He also alleged that provincial government resources, including the official helicopter, were being used despite court orders to the contrary.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
