ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to participate in political negotiations with sincerity and an open mind.
Commenting on the political structure of the country, Abbasi dismissed allegations that the current system is a “hybrid setup.” He maintained that all decisions are made collectively within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and rejected the notion that he merely follows party directives without input.
Addressing concerns regarding salary hikes, Abbasi explained that such decisions are made by the federal cabinet. He clarified that he does not support increases that could raise public concerns or lead to criticism.
Commenting on international affairs, Abbasi noted that former U.S. President Donald Trump tends to respect those who demonstrate strength, drawing a comparison to the respect shown to military figures such as Field Marshals.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry expressed concern over the renewed wave of terrorism in the country. He pointed out that militants were increasingly targeting soft and vulnerable locations. Although a new nationwide counter-terrorism operation had not been launched, he confirmed that the ongoing “Azm-e-Istehkam” initiative—comprising both military and non-military components—was still active.
Chaudhry stressed that peace and stability were essential for economic progress. He highlighted that while Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department was well-trained and equipped, provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continued to face challenges due to weaker institutional structures. He also mentioned that the Safe City project in Peshawar remained incomplete.
Reflecting on previous years, Chaudhry observed that terrorism had significantly declined between 2017 and 2018, but recent months had seen a troubling rise in attacks. He warned that these incidents often turned into sectarian issues, particularly during sensitive times like Muharram.
He noted that the frequency of terrorist activity was now comparable to 2012 levels, with three to four fatalities being reported daily, which is a sign of serious concern. Chaudhry also criticised PTI’s political behaviour, stating that its past mistakes had allowed reserved seats to be allocated to other political parties.
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