Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday condemned the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government over its failure to tackle rising terrorism, declaring that the federal government will no longer remain a silent spectator.
Addressing the cabinet meeting, the prime minister expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in districts like Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, where local populations are bearing the brunt of terrorists’ attacks.
He strongly condemned the provincial leadership’s silence and lack of empathy towards terror victims, while criticizing their response to federal overtures for a joint counter-terrorism strategy.
The prime minister said, despite two days of productive negotiations between federal coalition leaders (PML-N and PPP) and a PTI delegation, the final consensus draft was rejected at the eleventh hour by the KP Chief Minister. About the provincial leadership’s “sinister role” and attempting to “invade Islamabad to reenact past foul play,” he said “We will not remain silent in the face of such a situation. The law will take its course; we will not allow such acts.”
The prime minister urged federal cabinet members to make resolute decisions to address the escalating security crisis in the province.
Highlighting the security crisis plaguing KP, where innocent civilians, police personnel, and children are routinely targeted, he said he recalled that during the 2010 NFC Award, all four provinces voluntarily agreed to allocate an additional 1% share of financial resources to KP, making it roughly Rs 800 billion over the years for capacity building of its police force in the fight against terror.
The funds were explicitly meant to strengthen Counter-Terrorism Departments (CTD), fortify police stations, enhance intelligence, recruit personnel, and procure modern weaponry, he said, adding that neither the police nor the CTD saw meaningful strengthening. Instead, terrorism continued to fester unchecked in districts like Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
Despite reaching a finalized draft agreement, the KP Chief Minister backed out at the eleventh hour, he said, adding the intention was bad. They did not want peace to be established in the country and they did not want the economic revolution to come here.
Accusing the provincial leadership of pursuing an “impure plan” to invade Islamabad, the prime minister warned against reviving the dark memories of past anarchy, graphic disruptions and economic sabotage. He underscored that Pakistan’s hard-earned macroeconomic stability-evidenced by historic State Bank reserves, controlled inflation, and targeted fuel subsidies benefiting over five crore citizens-will not be compromised by political enmity.
“They ruled for thirteen years and are now pushing Pakistan to destruction,” the prime minister opined.
Recounting steps for economic stability, he highlighted improvements in key economic indicators, noting that national remittances had increased, fiscal discipline had strengthened, and State Bank reserves had reached historic highs. The prime minister also referred to the completion and inauguration of key technology infrastructure (such as the Daanish/National IT Park in Islamabad built via international cooperation) to support startups, SMEs, artificial intelligence innovation, and youth empowerment. Plans to replicate these hubs across major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta were on foot, he added.
About the role in the Gulf mediation and peace efforts, the prime minister emphasized Pakistan’s active, sincere diplomatic role in striving to de-escalate tensions and secure ceasefires in the Gulf region, working closely with allies like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, alongside engagement with Iran.
He also appreciated the roles of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Mohsin Naqvi in this regard. Reaffirming deep-rooted historic ties, he stressed that Saudi Arabia is a highly trusted brotherly nation. He strongly condemned escalations and threats in regional waterways (such as the Bab-al-Mandab strait) and drone attacks targeting holy sites, declaring them a red line and asserting that Pakistan stands in absolute solidarity with Saudi security and the protection of Makkah and Madinah.