Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon what he described as extremist politics, as the federal government considers imposing emergency measures or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This development coincides with PTI’s continued long march towards Islamabad, demanding the release of its founder, Imran Khan.
Speaking at an event in Karachi, Bilawal highlighted Pakistan’s political history, noting that those imprisoned today could rise to power tomorrow. However, he warned that if PTI persists with its current political stance, Khan might surpass the record of 14 years in prison held by former President Asif Ali Zardari. He criticized KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for engaging in negative politics and said PTI’s confrontational tactics were ultimately detrimental to the party itself.
Bilawal urged PTI to reconsider its approach by returning to parliamentary committees and engaging in dialogue with the federal government, suggesting these steps could help ease tensions and improve the political climate.
Meanwhile, the federal government is reportedly weighing emergency options in KP, with a high-level meeting scheduled to take place soon. The meeting is expected to include the president, prime minister, and senior military officials, who will review reports from national security agencies. One option under consideration is imposing emergency in 12 districts, including those formerly part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that have been merged into KP.
The government may also take over key provincial powers as part of these measures. A final decision could be reached during the meeting, with constitutional provisions under Articles 232 to 234 likely to be discussed. Despite these considerations, Bilawal emphasized that governor’s rule would remain a last resort.
