Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar has said that Sohail Afridi has not been arrested and no case has been registered against him, saying he remains in protective police custody in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking during a television programme, Tarar said Afridi was taken into protective custody following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
He added that several people had been taken into custody, while others, including Shafi Jan, had fled or gone into hiding.
Tarar alleged that Sohail Afridi had been engaged in protests while terrorism was escalating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also claimed that Afridi had previously led violent protests and sought safe passage from militants to travel through a particular area.
The minister further alleged that Afridi and his associates had protected the interests of militants and criticised their leadership for facilitating the return and resettlement of militants in the province.
Referring to public reaction, Tarar claimed that a Gallup survey indicated support among Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents for the federal government’s action. He also dismissed the possibility of further negotiations with the PTI, declaring that the matter was closed.
Tarar said an administrative setup described as the ARDC had been established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed confidence in the new arrangement.
He defended the imposition of emergency, saying it had been carried out in accordance with the Constitution and that the rise in terrorism provided substantial grounds for the decision.