PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) has strongly rejected allegations of links to militancy, instead accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of overseeing corruption and a decline in security during its 13-year rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday the ANP provincial spokesperson Arslan Khan said his party had “fought (terrorism) head-on” during its tenure, citing the killing of senior leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour as an example of its sacrifices.

“Those accusing ANP of terrorism should look back at their own 13-year (rule), which is marked by corruption and insecurity,” he said, adding that PTI had failed to deliver on governance and public welfare.

Flanked by party leaders including former MPA Salahuddin Khan, joint secretary Hamid Toofan, Metropolitan Peshawar president Arbab Rashid Samim and lawyer Sana Gulzar, Mr Khan was responding to recent allegations made by PTI MPA and adviser on information Shafi Jan.

He alleged that PTI leaders in districts such as Karak and Dera Ismail Khan were “regularly paying extortion money)” to proscribed outfits and accused the party of turning a blind eye to militancy.

Mr Khan also criticised PTI’s handling of security, recalling major terrorist incidents including attacks on churches, the Army Public School tragedy and the Bacha Khan University attack, which occurred during PTI’s tenure.

“The ANP has always raised its voice against terrorism and stood by the victims. Our leaders, including Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Mian Iftikhar Hussain, would reach attack sites despite threats to their own lives,” he said.

The ANP spokesperson accused the PTI government of political incompetence, rising unemployment and failure to ensure public safety. He also criticised alleged corruption cases including Rs840 million embezzlement in Karak.

He urged PTI leaders to “reconsider their conduct and statements” before levelling allegations against ANP, warning that the party would not allow political point-scoring over the sacrifices of the Pakhtun people.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2026