PM defends Centre’s emergency and governor’s rule in KP

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has again defended the federal government’s decision to impose an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the Centre believed it had no alternative after efforts to secure cooperation on counterterrorism failed. He made the remarks during a visit to Gujranwala on Saturday.

The federal government imposed the measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, citing what it described as the provincial administration’s disengagement from efforts against terrorism. Parliament later endorsed the decision, while opposition parties criticised the move and challenged its political and constitutional basis.

The prime minister said the federal side had repeatedly sought to work with the provincial leadership on security, development needs and administrative issues. He said meetings were held with the then provincial leadership and that the Centre had offered support to address the province’s security challenges.

He also referred to talks between a joint government-PPP delegation and the opposition, saying the discussions did not produce an agreement. According to the prime minister, a proposed arrangement had been prepared under which a planned PTI long march would be called off, but the negotiations ended without a breakthrough.

The dispute is taking place against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where militant violence has remained a major issue. The federal government has argued that close coordination between Islamabad and the provincial authorities is necessary for an effective response.

PTI has rejected the federal government’s criticism and has said it was excluded from important security decisions affecting the province. The party has also called for a review of counterterrorism policy and has opposed the emergency and governor’s rule, framing the measures as politically motivated.

Federal ministers have alleged that the provincial government did not act sufficiently against militant groups, while PTI has denied such accusations. The competing claims underline the deep distrust between the two sides and the political conflict that preceded the federal intervention.

The decision has expanded an already serious confrontation between the Centre and PTI, which had intensified after the party announced a march to Islamabad demanding the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. Political tensions and disagreement over security policy contributed to the failure of talks earlier this month.

The next phase will depend on legal challenges, parliamentary developments and whether meaningful political engagement resumes. A durable response to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security situation will require both institutional coordination and a clear framework that addresses concerns about governance, public safety and constitutional authority.