PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former provincial minister, Shaukat Yousafzai has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led government in Centre is not taking interest in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa issues.
In an exclusive interview with Pakhtun Digital, Shaukat Yousafzai, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), discussed the party’s strategy for moving forward, especially regarding the formation of a Grand Alliance.
He stated that if any obstacles arise, PTI will determine its course of action. This time, he emphasized the importance of advancing the movement in a more organized manner.
Yousafzai asserted that no political movement truly fails; instead, it is an ongoing journey.
He acknowledged that while the results of their efforts may not come immediately or may not meet expectations, the new leadership is committed to making improvements.
He noted past mistakes and deficiencies, particularly due to a significant portion of the leadership being incarcerated.
Addressing accusations that PTI was prioritizing protests for the release of Imran Khan over pressing issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he clarified that a political party and the government operate independently. He affirmed that the provincial government, along with its ministers and institutions, continues to fulfil its responsibilities, and development work is ongoing in sectors such as healthcare and education.
Yousafzai highlighted that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) central government lacks political interest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading them to spread baseless propaganda.
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On the topic of rising terrorism incidents in the country, he pointed out that cross-border terrorism could not be effectively controlled by the provincial government alone.
He advocated for comprehensive measures and policies at the federal level. Yousafzai remarked that while many attribute terrorism to Afghanistan, one must consider how often Pakistani officials, including the Foreign Minister, have engaged with Afghan counterparts.
He questioned the frequency of visits by the Defense Minister and Interior Minister to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan following recent attacks, emphasising the need to instill confidence in the public.
Criticising the federal government’s performance, he claimed that Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi seems preoccupied with cricket rather than addressing pressing issues, while Talal Chaudhry appears focused solely on blaming PTI.
Regarding economic matters, Yousafzai pointed out that although global petrol prices are declining, the Pakistani populace is not benefitting from these changes. He accused the government of failing to curb the influence of the sugar mafia.
He also highlighted the significant downturn in Pakistan’s textile industry, noting that 187 textile mills have shut down in Punjab.
Despite NSC meeting no decisive actions taken to address rising terror threat: Yousafzai
Yousafzai mentioned that while PTI was accused of borrowing Rs26,000 billion in three and a half years, the current government has borrowed$27 billion from April 2022 to 2024 and is attempting to secure additional loans.
While criticizing the federal government, he stated that despite convening a Parliamentary Committee on National Security, no decisive actions have been taken to address the rising terrorism threat.
Yousafzai warned that if this situation is not addressed, both Islamabad and Lahore would remain at risk, underscoring the necessity for a cohesive national policy to combat terrorism.
