Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON Amir Muqam has demanded that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) give an account of its 13 years in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, telling a public gathering in Batkhela that the era of corruption and unrest in the province has ended and people should now see tangible change.

Muqam was addressing a large Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) gathering in Batkhela, Malakand district, on Sunday, held under the banner of Youm-e-Nijat to mark the end of PTI rule in the province. Thousands of party workers and local residents attended, with pro-Pakistan and PML-N slogans raised during the event.

The federal minister, who is also the PML-N's provincial president in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said PTI's tenure had been characterised by corruption and poor governance, and claimed the party would be held accountable for its 13 years of rule. He said that during that period only PTI leaders had become wealthy, while the people of the province had become poorer.

Development pledges for Malakand

Muqam said the people of Malakand had made unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism, including abandoning their homes to help restore peace, but were now facing a shortage of basic facilities and economic hardship. He announced the establishment of a Wapda division and the approval of a bypass for Batkhela, and assured the gathering that steps would be taken to improve hospitals, schools and colleges across Malakand.

On the question of taxes in Malakand, he said people could not afford to pay them until complete peace was restored in the region, adding that he had raised the matter at every relevant forum, including the Apex Committee. He also defended the imposition of governor's rule in the province, saying the decision had been taken in the province's interest and that the government's one-point agenda was to ensure public resources were spent for the welfare of the people.

Security and the May 9 violence

Referring to the May 9, 2023 incidents, Muqam alleged that PTI had misled the youth, and said people must now make decisions after careful consideration. He said there was no room for facilitators of terrorists or supporters of unrest, and stressed that peace and stability remained the government's foremost priorities. He also alleged that if PTI had not facilitated terrorists, there would have been no need to impose governor's rule and an emergency in the province, and claimed the party had failed to protect people from terrorism.

Muqam paid tribute to the armed forces, saying soldiers had rendered great services in earthquakes, floods and the war against terrorism, and noted that during Marka-e-Haq the armed forces had forced the enemy to retreat. He questioned how a party that could neither build nor operate a single Bus Rapid Transit system or a hospital could be expected to run a province. He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wanted peace, development and practical measures, not hollow slogans and social media propaganda.