Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday asserted that the PPP was the “last party” in favour of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that it had emphasised dialogue as the first course of action.
The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move also followed a mobilisation drive and protest march by the PTI, which was in power in KP and in opposition in the Centre, to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
The PPP, an ally of the ruling PML-N, supported the federal government’s move while opposition parties and leaders, in addition to the PTI, denounced it.
Memon, who was speaking to the media in Karachi, said: “Let me clarify; the step taken in KP was not out of greed or desire for power. Had it been the case, the members of the advisory council appointed by the [KP] governor would have been political representatives or suggested by the PPP.”
“They were chosen purely on merit,” he said.
The minister deemed terrorism the main challenge being faced in KP, adding that it was “plaguing” the entire country. He said the Afghan Taliban were crossing into Pakistan, infiltrating the borders areas in KP. That, he said, had been a “big challenge”.
“And the KP government was repeatedly told to fix things, but they were unwilling,” Memon claimed.
He said a comparison was also being drawn between KP and Balochistan, which was also facing security challenges. Questions were being raised that if governor’s rule was imposed in KP, why not in Balochistan, he noted.
“If there is terrorism in Balochistan, the provincial government there is fighting against it,” Memon argued, adding that Balochistan’s chief minister did not have a “soft spot” for terrorists.
He alleged that former premier Imran and later Sohail Afridi, who has become non-functional as the KP chief minister following the imposition of governor’s rule, had insisted on dialogue with terrorists.
“It was the responsibility of the KP chief minister and government to fight against terrorists,” he stressed.
Coming to his party’s involvement in the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, he said the PPP was the “last party” in favour of the move.
The PPP tried to engage the opposition and insisted that a dialogue be held with the PTI first, Memon said, adding that, however, “when just one person, the KP chief minister” was not willing to engage on counterterrorism and had a “soft spot” for terrorists, the people could not be left helpless.
He also reacted to statements by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor’s rule in KP.
“We respect him a lot but that does not mean he supports a party that has backed terrorism,” he said, adding that Fazl should consider the challenges Pakistan was going through. “They (JUI-F) should help the government against terrorists, help our law enforcement agencies,” Memon added.