Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday defended the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the worsening security situation and a resurgence of terrorism, while blaming the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for undermining counterterrorism efforts.
The development comes weeks after the federal government imposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reportedly over disagreement between the centre and province over counterterrorism measures.
Addressing a high-level meeting of the Apex Committee, the prime minister said the government had been compelled to take the measures in response to the deteriorating security situation in the province.
He accused the previous PTI government of allowing terrorists to return, claiming that its actions had undermined the gains made in the fight against terrorism.
“The people-related issues, including education and the protection of citizens, were sidelined,” the prime minister said, describing the alleged failure to prioritise public safety as an act against the national interest.
The Apex Committee meeting was attended by federal and provincial ministers and relevant officials including senior military leadership.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal were also among the participants of the meeting, which reviewed the overall security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and measures being taken to combat terrorism.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz pointed to shortcomings in the provincial police and counterterrorism infrastructure, saying around 5,000 police posts had remained vacant during the previous government’s tenure. He also cited delays in completing Safe City projects, a lack of significant improvements in the Counter Terrorism Department’s capabilities and inadequate measures for police training.
He said the federal government had offered the previous two PTI chief ministers all possible resources to combat terrorism, but alleged that the offers had not been acted upon.
The prime minister said the government could not remain a passive observer when actions threatened national security, adding that a point had to be reached where such conduct was brought to an end.
He said an advisory council had been formed to help improve the situation in the province.
Shehbaz also credited cooperation between the political and military leadership for the country’s economic progress over the past eight years. He said Pakistan had maintained economic stability despite soaring international oil prices and its dependence on imported energy, attributing the achievement to the hard work of officials across relevant institutions.
The prime minister also directed a transparent investigation into the school roof-collapse tragedy that claimed the lives of dozens of children. He instructed the governor to visit the site.
Speaking at the meeting, the governor said establishing peace and ensuring development were the province’s foremost priorities, adding that residents should not have to choose between the two.
“When priorities are clear, institutions are on the same page and the goal is to serve the people, peace can be established in KP and progress can be made at the same time,” he said.
The governor said development in the merged districts was a top priority, noting that their residents had made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He vowed to eliminate terrorists and their facilitators.