Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have welcomed the imposition of governor’s rule, expressing hope that the move will help restore law and order in the province. Speaking at a briefing for foreign media representatives alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, he said the federal government wanted to improve security rather than pursue a political agenda.
Attaullah Tarar said the federal government had repeatedly attempted to develop a joint counterterrorism strategy with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the KP government. However, according to him, these efforts had not resulted in coordinated action. He argued that effective cooperation between federal and provincial authorities was essential to tackling the growing security challenges.
The information minister also highlighted Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan, urging the interim Afghan government to eliminate terrorist safe havens and prevent its territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan. He alleged that the KP government followed a different approach towards the Afghan administration, raising questions about coordination in national counterterrorism policy.
Tarar questioned how the provincial government had utilised approximately Rs800 billion received through the National Finance Commission (NFC) mechanism. He claimed that greater investment was needed in the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Safe City surveillance systems, forensic laboratories, modern police equipment and initiatives to counter extremist narratives. He also referred to his visit to Kohat, where he met injured victims and families affected by a terrorist attack.
What Is the Difference Between Emergency and Governor’s Rule in Pakistan?
Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said President Asif Ali Zardari had proclaimed an emergency in KP under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. He explained that emergency measures and governor’s rule had different legal durations and that no fixed timeframe had been announced. Their continuation, he said, would depend on the prevailing circumstances and applicable constitutional procedures.
The law minister cited government figures indicating that 2,911 terrorist incidents were reported in KP between 2021 and 2024, while a subsequent figure of approximately 8,600 was also presented. He described the rise in militant violence as a major factor behind the emergency decision. However, the figures and the periods being compared require clarification to establish the precise scale of the reported increase.
Both ministers emphasised the need for stronger coordination among state institutions to combat terrorism. Azam Nazeer Tarar said the military and security agencies continued to support internal security efforts while defending Pakistan’s borders. The development has renewed debate over provincial autonomy, constitutional powers and the federal government’s approach to addressing the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.