ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday defended the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of failing to act decisively against terrorism and warning that political agitation threatened the country’s economic recovery.
During separate meetings with delegations of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and allied parties, the prime minister said the federal cabinet had decided, after mutual consultation, to take the constitutional measures under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
He said the federal government had made every effort to avoid what he described as an extremely difficult step, but negotiations had failed to elicit a positive response from the other side.
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He alleged that the provincial government had neither unequivocally condemned terrorism nor taken effective action against terrorist groups, despite an increase in attacks targeting civilians and security personnel.
He said the federal government had provided Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with more than Rs800 billion under the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework to combat terrorism.
However, he alleged, the provincial government had failed to strengthen its Counter Terrorism Department or take effective measures to establish safe cities.
Sharif maintained that the government had acted in the best interests of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He also alleged that a long march had threatened to derail the country’s economic recovery.
The MQM delegation, led by Federal Minister for Education and party convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, assured the prime minister of its full support for the government’s decisions concerning the province.
At a separate meeting, a parliamentary delegation representing Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PMl-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and PML-Zia also expressed support for the federal government.
The prime minister told the delegations that an impartial technocratic advisory council had been established to assist the governor in improving law and order, strengthening the provincial economy and combating terrorism.
Criticising the PTI government’s 13-year tenure in the province, he alleged that it had failed to deliver adequately on public welfare and protect life and property, opting instead for political confrontation.
The allied parties’ delegation praised Sharif’s leadership during what it described as difficult circumstances.
Its members said the people of KP had been deprived of adequate progress in health, education and infrastructure under the PTI government.
They expressed confidence that federal support would help extend development and prosperity to the province.
The meetings were attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs and inter-provincial coordination, Rana Sanaullah.
The MQM-P delegation also included Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, senators and MNAs. The allied parties’ delegation included BAP president Khalid Magsi, former Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, PML-Q president Chaudhry Salik Hussain and representatives of the IPP and PML-Zia.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026