ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has defended the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the Centre had made every effort to cooperate with the provincial government before resorting to emergency measures.
Addressing a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, he cited worsening security conditions, continued casualties among security personnel and civilians, and the breakdown of political negotiations as key factors behind the decision.
Shehbaz said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made enormous sacrifices for Pakistan, particularly during periods of heightened insecurity. He described the province as one of the country’s most beautiful regions and praised its residents for their courage, while stressing that terrorism and unemployment needed to be addressed.
The federal government imposed governor’s rule in KP on Sunday and declared an emergency in 12 districts, citing what it described as the provincial government’s disengagement from counterterrorism efforts.
SECURITY CONCERNS
The prime minister said the security situation had deteriorated in recent months, with security personnel and civilians continuing to lose their lives in KP and Balochistan. He argued that the resurgence of terrorism threatened the country’s stability and economic progress.
Shehbaz claimed terrorism had been largely eliminated by 2018 but subsequently returned. He alleged that militants had been brought into KP under the former PTI-led government and criticised the party for failing to take an unequivocal public stance against terrorist groups.
He also questioned the provincial government’s priorities, arguing that greater attention had been directed towards sit-ins, long marches and political confrontation rather than strengthening law enforcement institutions, including the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).
The prime minister said the federal government had repeatedly offered cooperation to the KP administration. He recalled meeting former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and later holding discussions with Sohail Afridi, adding that the Centre had sought to make counterterrorism a shared responsibility.
Shehbaz said the federal government had spent the past two and a half years attempting to improve conditions. He also criticised the province’s development record, saying residents deserved better schools, universities, hospitals, infrastructure and law and order.
TALKS COLLAPSE
The prime minister linked the decision to impose governor’s rule to the failure of negotiations between the government and the opposition, particularly talks held on October 3.
According to Shehbaz, the discussions had reached a point where the parties appeared close to an agreement, with a draft reflecting consensus on the demands under consideration. He said the PTI delegation subsequently requested additional time to consult the KP chief minister.
The prime minister alleged that the process was deliberately derailed and suggested that the opposition had been instructed to repeat the events of May 9, 2023. These were allegations made by Shehbaz during his address.
He also referred to PTI protests in Islamabad, including the November 2024 demonstration and earlier sit-ins at D-Chowk in 2014. He accused the party of prioritising political confrontation over cooperation with the federal government and security institutions.
Shehbaz said consultations, including discussions involving Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, preceded the decision. He described the move as necessary to prevent further deterioration and said the newly appointed KP Advisory Council, operating under the governor, would be expected to improve security and living conditions.
FEDERAL FUNDING
The prime minister also briefed a parliamentary delegation representing allied parties on the situation in KP and the constitutional measures taken by the Centre.
According to state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, Shehbaz said the federal government had transferred more than Rs800 billion to the province under National Finance Commission arrangements. He argued that the provincial administration had not done enough to strengthen the CTD or establish Safe City projects to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.
The delegation included representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Balochistan Awami Party, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and PML-Zia. Participants expressed support for the federal government’s approach and raised concerns about development in health, education and infrastructure during PTI’s tenure in the province.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also attended the meeting.
During his address, Shehbaz further referred to recent meetings with international financial institutions, saying positive assessments of Pakistan’s economic reforms had strengthened his confidence in the country’s progress. He argued that a deteriorating security situation in KP could undermine the wider development gains the federal government was seeking to achieve.