The federal government has accused the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of politicizing the recent Bannu incident, alleging that PTI members were involved in the protest rally that led to civilian casualties.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that the PTI attempted to disrupt the peaceful protest and incite violence. He alleged that armed individuals within the protest opened fire, resulting in the deaths and injuries of civilians.

Tarar criticized PTI Chairman Imran Khan for failing to condemn the incident and for spreading misinformation about direct firing on protesters. He further accused the PTI of fabricating evidence, including using images of children from another country to claim they were victims of the violence.

The minister questioned the impartiality of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s decision to form a commission to investigate the incident, stating that the presence of PTI members in the protest raises concerns about their ability to conduct a fair probe.

The protest, organized by the trader community, was held to demand action against armed groups operating in Bannu and surrounding areas.

The federal government maintains that the situation in Bannu is stabilizing, but accuses certain political forces of attempting to exploit the incident for political gain and spread misinformation.

The PTI has vehemently denied the allegations, rejecting the federal government’s claims of their involvement in the violence.