Armed protests hallmark of PTI, says Attaullah Tarar

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for having a history of violent tactics as he strongly criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's warning of taking to streets with arms.

"Armed protests involving illegal Afghan immigrants are a hallmark of PTI," the minister said, adding that the PTI had marched on the federal capital with armed groups previously as well. 

The minister's condemnation comes hours after the firebrand KP CM called on PTI founder Imran Khan to cease advocating for peace, while warning the incumbent government of taking to the streets with "guns" next time.

“Imran Khan! for God’s sake, stop advocating for peace. Next time, we will not talk about peace. When we come out with weapons, we will show who runs away," Gandapur said while addressing a ceremony in Abbottabad on Saturday.

Lambasting the PML-N-led coalition government, Gandapur likened it to fascism, saying that his party is waging a war against the fascist regime. “Fascism has trampled on Pakistan's Constitution, law, morality and humanity," he added.

In his reaction to the chief minister's statement, the information minister also accused Gandapur’s security guard of engaging in violence, stating that eyewitnesses saw him opening fire.

They aim to play politics over dead bodies, he added.

Tarar recalled two major PTI-led protests — May 9 and November 26 — describing them as the "dark chapters" in the country's history.

The PML-N stalwart also claimed that people of KP have already rejected the approach of the former ruling party, saying: "Masses have turned their backs on PTI and will do the same by rejecting the party's any future calls for protests as well."