ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Sunday condemned the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, terming the move unconstitutional and contrary to democratic principles.
It announced that it would challenge governor’s rule through the courts, assemblies and public forums. It also said the long march would go ahead as planned.
Addressing a press conference, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said governor’s rule and an emergency would not resolve the province’s problems, stressing that counterterrorism efforts required a unified strategy developed through political consensus.
He rejected allegations that the KP government had failed to cooperate with the federal government in tackling terrorism, saying the provincial administration remained committed to eliminating the menace.
“If the problem of terrorism exists in 12 districts, why has governor’s rule been imposed across the province?” he asked.
Gohar said the PTI had consistently condemned terrorism in all its forms and maintained that the country’s security and defence remained paramount. However, he argued that counterterrorism measures should not be used to justify action against his party.
He said the PTI would challenge governor’s rule through the courts, assemblies and public forums, adding that the party’s struggle for constitutional and democratic rights would continue.
The PTI chairman also called for the release of political prisoners and the restoration of the legal rights of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan. He demanded that Imran be transferred to a hospital for treatment, that his family be allowed to meet him, and that details of his health and treatment be shared with them.
Gohar said the party had approached the Supreme Court and high courts 19 times seeking relief for its incarcerated founder. He said the announcement of a long march for Aug 5 had been made to secure Imran Khan’s rights after the party failed to obtain relief through the courts.
He claimed that around 1,500 PTI workers were imprisoned in Punjab, while 10 members of the provincial assembly, including three ministers, and eight members of the National Assembly had also been arrested.
The PTI chairman rejected the government’s narrative about his party, arguing that political action against the PTI should not be linked to efforts to eliminate terrorism.
He further claimed that terrorism had not been discussed during 15 meetings with government representatives before Oct 2. He said the KP government had increased police capacity, provided security resources and participated in counterterrorism meetings.
Gohar said federal interference had weakened the provincial government’s authority, adding that sidelining an elected chief minister was inconsistent with democratic principles.
Consensus needed on counterterrorism
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party had consistently called for a mutually agreed strategy to address terrorism, arguing that decisions on security operations should be taken in consultation with all political parties.
Referring to the Parachinar agreement, he said the party’s position had remained clear and that it was seeking the implementation of previously agreed decisions rather than the introduction of new conditions.
He said the party had cited the February 2026 meeting of the Apex Committee and a resolution adopted at a peace jirga as the basis for moving forward.
Raja said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had taken a clear position and that the provincial government could not grant the federal government unrestricted authority to undertake whatever measures it considered appropriate.
“We cannot give anyone written permission to do whatever they want and then endorse it,” he said.
He added that any decision concerning governor’s rule or an emergency must be made in accordance with constitutional principles and political consensus.
Raja said negotiations had involved consultations with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, while Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other political leaders had been trying to ensure the process succeeded.
He claimed that the talks had been progressing satisfactorily and that the imposition of an emergency was a hasty decision. He also cited Senator Kamran Murtaza as saying that negotiations were moving in the right direction.
The TTAP leader described the arrest of a provincial assembly speaker as an extraordinary step, adding that the assembly remained in existence.
Despite what he described as a crackdown on the PTI, Raja said the party remained committed to its principles and was seeking peace and protection for innocent people.
He confirmed that there had been no change to the announcement of the long march by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying peaceful protest was a fundamental constitutional right.
“We will not throw stones. Through peaceful protest, we have to express our moral position,” he said, adding that a large-scale, peaceful demonstration by citizens across the country would convey a strong message.
He said people would decide how to express their displeasure over what he described as actions against democracy, while distinguishing between political protest and revolutionary action.
National Action Plan must be implemented
Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said Pakistan was a federation whose provinces were united under a single Constitution, and criticised the treatment meted out to the PTI.
He claimed that Imran had received the majority of public support in the elections and alleged that the ruling establishment feared the public mandate and had continuously targeted the PTI.
Abbas blamed the government for the prevailing insecurity, saying the conduct of those in power had caused greater damage than the country’s external enemies could inflict.
He called for the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and said the seven days since the start of negotiations could have been used to make progress towards a political settlement.
Abbas further said the party could not support military operations in which ordinary citizens became victims, stressing that counterterrorism measures must protect civilians and contribute to lasting peace.