Naqvi Defends KP Emergency As Constitutional

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told the Senate on Tuesday that the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not violate the Constitution, as lawmakers continued to debate the legality and political impact of the move.

Naqvi made the remarks during a Senate session focused on the situation in KP, where opposition members challenged the federal action and demanded clarity over the constitutional basis for suspending the province’s normal political arrangement. The minister asked Senator Raja Nasir Abbas to identify the specific constitutional provision that had allegedly been breached.

According to Naqvi, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party had reviewed the relevant legal provisions before the decision was taken. He said both parties examined the matter and concluded that the government’s position was justified under the law.

The interior minister also linked the decision to earlier negotiations between the government and the opposition. He said talks in parliament had initially focused on terrorism, with several points discussed during the process. He added that PTI leader Asad Qaiser had assured him that the party would stand with Pakistan on those issues.

Naqvi said he later pointed out that Asad Qaiser’s position appeared different from that of the KP government. He maintained that political issues were not part of the initial stage of the negotiations, suggesting that the talks began around security concerns rather than a broader political settlement.

The Senate debate came after the Centre imposed emergency and governor’s rule in KP, citing security and governance concerns in the province. The decision has triggered a sharp political response, with opposition figures arguing that the move undermines provincial representation and the constitutional order.

Government ministers have defended the action as a necessary step linked to the security situation, while critics have framed it as a political intervention. Naqvi’s remarks were aimed at countering the claim that the federal government had acted outside constitutional limits.

The next stage of the dispute is expected to unfold both inside Parliament and through possible legal challenges. The government will have to defend the measure under constitutional scrutiny, while opposition parties are likely to continue pressing for reversal of the emergency arrangement in KP.