Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif defended the federal government’s decision to impose emergency rule and governor’s authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Chairing a high-level provincial apex committee meeting at Governor House in Peshawar. The prime minister described the measures as a step taken under “extreme compulsion.” He attributed the administrative intervention directly to the province’s worsening security landscape and rising militant violence. Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership, accusing the former provincial administration of negligence regarding counterterrorism coordination.
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Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the strategic security review alongside senior federal and provincial officials. This visit marks Prime Minister Sharif’s first official trip to Peshawar since the federal government declared an emergency on October 11. During discussions, civilian and military leadership evaluated comprehensive counterterrorism operations and strategic deployments across vulnerable border districts.
Reflecting on the region’s historical stability, Prime Minister Sharif recalled that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been a secure “cradle of peace” just six years ago. He emphasized that federal and provincial authorities must work day and night to accelerate economic development and restore public security. President Asif Ali Zardari previously approved the emergency declaration under Article 232 and governor’s rule under Article 234 upon federal cabinet recommendations.
To maintain administrative continuity, the federal government established an eleven-member advisory council to assist Governor Kundi during the transition period. Authorities created a specialized Area Development Secretariat to oversee twelve terrorism-affected districts, including Waziristan, Bannu, Bajaur, and Dera Ismail Khan. The Centre also authorized military troop deployments under Article 245 of the Constitution to assist civil law enforcement agencies. Federal ministers maintain that these stringent measures are essential to eliminate insurgent networks and stabilize the region.
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Political opposition parties continue challenging the constitutional legality of the federal intervention, demanding the immediate restoration of elected provincial institutions. However, federal authorities remain firm that national security imperatives superseded routine political governance structures during the ongoing security crisis. The outcomes of the Peshawar apex committee sessions will guide upcoming counterterrorism strategies and targeted regional development spending. Meanwhile, local administrative officers and security forces continue implementing enhanced protocols across all provincial districts. Ultimately, the federal government aims to lay a durable foundation for long-term peace and stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.