The National Assembly is set to take up a resolution seeking emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry is expected to put the motion forward for approval, as the federal government defends its decision to impose governor’s rule in the province.
The move comes as tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which leads the provincial administration in KP, continue to escalate. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blamed the PTI’s “recalcitrance” for the decision, saying that the collapse of negotiations left the government with no real choice but to act.
The federal government announced emergency under Article 232 and governor’s rule under Article 234 of the Constitution on October 11, after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the step on the prime minister’s advice. The government pointed to worsening security in the province and accused the provincial administration of not cooperating in efforts to combat terrorism. The PTI has rejected the move as politically motivated and said it would challenge it.
Shehbaz Sharif defends the federal decision
Speaking at a parliamentary meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Islamabad, Shehbaz said his government had spent the past two-and-a-half years trying to work with the PTI-led provincial administration. He argued that fighting terrorism was a shared duty, and said Islamabad had sought cooperation from provincial leaders on security and development.
He recalled several meetings with former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in which he said he had offered to work jointly with the provincial government. “I told Ali Amin Gandapur that we would work together and that the journey of development was shared,” Shehbaz said, adding that he had also pressed for a joint strategy against terrorism. He also mentioned a meeting with former chief minister Sohail Afridi.
According to the prime minister, talks repeatedly ran into difficulties, and the draft agreement was revised several times. He alleged the process was ultimately derailed even though the two sides had moved toward a consensus. Calling it a “now or never” moment, he said the government had no option but to impose governor’s rule.
Security concerns remain at the heart of the row
Shehbaz argued that security in KP depends on cooperation between the federal and provincial governments. He said security personnel and civilians were still being killed in terrorist attacks, and that Islamabad wanted to eliminate militancy and unemployment in the province.
He described the people of KP as having made major sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He said the federal government stood alongside the security forces and wanted to restore peace, stability and development. He further alleged that militants had been allowed to return to Swat during the PTI’s time in power and were given room to operate. These claims formed part of his criticism of the previous provincial leadership’s approach to security.
The government maintains that the provincial administration did not cooperate adequately with federal authorities on counterterrorism. The PTI disputes that justification and opposes governor’s rule. The row now centres on both the constitutional steps taken by the federal government and rival claims about security and governance.
National Assembly vote is the next step
Next in line is the National Assembly’s consideration of the draft resolution, which has been announced as the next parliamentary development linked to the decision.
