TTP terror activities should be matter of concern for Afghanistan: Sana

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday the involvement of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in terror activities inside Pakistan should be a matter of concern for the Afghan Taliban as it was dangerous for regional peace.

Speaking to the media after attending a meeting to review the overall security situation in the country following a suicide attack in Quetta a day earlier, he said the TTP had claimed responsibility for the latest terrorist attack in Balochistan, which was condemnable and alarming not only for Pakistan but for the whole region.

The interior minister said resurgence of terrorism should also be a matter of concern for neighbouring Afghanistan where Pakistan had been extending every possible assistance for peace. He said provincial governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) should fulfill their responsibility of ensuring law and order and they may at any time seek federation’s assistance to counter terrorist threat.

Sanaullah said the federal government was keeping a check on the security situation across the country, adding: “Our security forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge”. Turning to political developments, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said “a group led by a crazy person is bent upon creating anarchy in the

country”, adding they were making every effort to destabilise the country.

“Economy cannot strengthen when there’s political uncertainty in the country. When they (Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf) were in government their agenda was to eliminate opposition and now they are trying to destabilise the country,” he added.

Sanaullah said the PTI’s announcement to quit assemblies was part of the plan to trigger a crisis, adding: “If you don’t want to be part of this ‘corrupt system’ then you should opt-out of Senate, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan assemblies as well.”

“Announcement to dissolve assemblies in rallies is unconstitutional and undemocratic. We will try to stop the assemblies from being dissolved,” he added.

The minister said elections will be held only on Punjab and KP assemblies’ seats (in case of dissolution), while the general election will be held on time.