SWABI: Senior ANP leader and former chief minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Tuesday alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders maintained contact with terrorists.

He also said the PTI leaders were so feeble that it wasn`t possible for them to call a tyrant a tyrant.

Addressing a gathering held here to mark the death anniversaries of Pakhtun leaders Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Abdul Wali Khan, Mr Hoti said the PTI government in the province didn`t have courage to challenge terrorists.

He insisted that the PTI leaders held talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan leaders and brought 40,000 terrorists to the province, causing lawlessness to spike.

`The PTI leader can`t speak against terrorists because of fear,` he said.

Mr Hoti said the ANP leaders and workers were targeted by terrorists for challenging them.

He said police were unable to protect public life in southern and tribal districts, especially Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Tank, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan.

`Terrorist attacks have restricted police in tribal districts to police stations,` he said.

The ANP leader said instead of protecting people, the police were focusing on their own security in the merged districts, while judges and other officials couldn`t travel without security cover.

He added that those regions were ruled by authorities in the daytime and by terrorists at night.

Mr Hoti wondered why the provincial government wasn`t taking steps to check terrorist activities.

He criticised the PTI leadership for holding talks with the government and establishment at the same time and insisted that PTI chairman Barrister Gohar met with the army chief in Peshawar and declared the party would continue speaking to the government about its demands.

The ANP leader said the federal government had questioned the credibility of the PTI`s such backdoor parleys.

He paid tribute to Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Abdul Wali Khan for devoting their lives for protecting the rights of Pakhtuns and educating them about the upcoming challenges.

ANP district president Asif Khan and other leaders vowed to take the mission of the two Pakhtun leaders for peace and people`s welfare forward.