ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reiterated that the federal government was “compelled” to impose emergency measures and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) because of the provincial government’s alleged lack of cooperation in countering terrorism.
The Centre imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP on October 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. Parliament also endorsed the decisions this week amid protests by the opposition. On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz visited the residence of Rashid Bashir Virk in Gujranwala to offer condolences on the death of his father, former MNA Mahmood Bashir Virk.
Recalling the late Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker’s services, the prime minister stressed that the federal government had been compelled to impose emergency measures in KP.
He described the move as a “last attempt”, referring to rounds of negotiations between the opposition and a joint delegation comprising representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the federal government.
The second round of talks, held on October 3, lasted several hours but ended without a breakthrough.
“They held talks with them (PTI) day and night for 48 hours and sat together with the intention of resolving matters from every aspect,”
Prime Minister Shehbaz said, adding that a draft agreement had been prepared under which Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was to withdraw its call for a long march.
The prime minister said he had held several meetings with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, whose role had become non-functional following the imposition of governor’s rule, as well as with his predecessor, Ali Amin Gandapur.
— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 17, 2026
“In every meeting, I tried my best to convey to him, with sincerity and seriousness, that KP is an extremely beautiful province with very brave and honourable people, and that I am always available to support its development and prosperity,” the prime minister said.
He added that he had assured the provincial government of federal support in jointly combating terrorism and addressing the province’s security challenges.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said he had also assured the chief minister that decisions regarding administration, resources and other requirements would be made in consultation with him.
“Unfortunately, despite all these efforts, thousands of law enforcement personnel, soldiers and officers of the armed forces continue to sacrifice their lives to defend the homeland,” he said. The prime minister said the federal government had made extensive efforts to address the situation, but these had been met with threats and repeated calls for long marches.
“Their past history is very horrific,” he remarked, recalling the PTI’s 2014 sit-ins at Islamabad’s D-Chowk during the tenure of his elder brother, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
“Last year as well, you saw how the entire country was brought to a standstill by a sit-in in Islamabad,” he added, apparently referring to the PTI’s November 2024 protest, which resulted in clashes.
“This time as well, they had an entire plan for bloodshed,” he alleged.
The imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule on October 11 followed weeks of political tensions between the federal government and PTI, alongside negotiations aimed at resolving their differences. The tensions intensified after PTI announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Federal ministers alleged that the PTI-led provincial government had a “nexus” with terrorist groups, arguing that the security situation in KP necessitated emergency measures. The federal government and PTI have remained at odds over several issues, particularly counterterrorism policy, which was among the main reasons for the breakdown of the October 3 negotiations.
PTI maintained that it was being excluded from security-related decisions concerning KP, a claim denied by the federal government. The party also called for a review of the counterterrorism policy, while the Centre criticised the provincial government’s efforts to combat terrorism and objected to its position on dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.