ISLAMABAD: Terrorists from the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group have infiltrated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoys travelling from various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security officials said, raising concerns that they could use large gatherings to carry out terrorist attacks.
According to the security officials, terrorists belonging to certain factions of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have entered PTI convoys in disguise from areas including Makin in South Waziristan and Malakand. “Terrorists belonging to certain factions of Fitna-ul-Khawarij have infiltrated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf convoys in disguise, entering from areas such as Makin in South Waziristan and Malakand,” security officials said.
Security officials said the terrorists could take cover among large crowds gathered at different locations and target crowded areas as well as law enforcement personnel deployed for security.
“Terrorists from Fitna-ul-Khawarij could carry out attacks by taking cover among large crowds gathered at various locations,” security officials said.
Crowded areas and law enforcement personnel on duty could become targets of these terrorists, according to security officials.
Furthermore, the security officials warned that political gatherings could also be targeted in an attempt to create chaos and disorder.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that PTI and the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee share a common pattern of protest to stoke unrest in the country.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Talal Chaudhry pointed out that the banned Joint Awami Action Committee announced its call for a protest exactly on the same date which was fixed by PTI for its long march.
Talal Chaudhry said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the protest call, just as they did in the recent elections.
He said a neighbouring country, after facing a humiliating defeat in Marka-e-Haq, has heavily invested in proxies to destabilise Pakistan.
The Minister of State highlighted that illegal weapons are being smuggled into Pakistan from Afghanistan and used by various terrorist groups to spread anarchy in the country.
He said PTI is not serious about the issue of terrorism for the sake of its politics.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of attempting to sabotage negotiations between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government.
The federal government and PTI team held two rounds of negotiations on Friday and Saturday to prevent the party’s long march towards Islamabad.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said that strict legal action would be taken against those violating the law during the long march, warning that authorities would not allow any march on Islamabad.
The interior minister said that all those gathering for the sit-in would face a complete legal process and trial if they violated the law. He reiterated that the government had made it clear that no one would be permitted to storm the federal capital.
