ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution endorsing the federal government’s imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Centre had imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Sunday, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism.
The NA question hour session was suspended due to discussions on the emergency. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled a motion regarding the proclamation of emergency, which was adopted with a majority vote following a discussion opened by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
Throughout the proceedings, opposition members participated calmly and did not stage any loud protest, unlike past instances of ruckus when PTI objects to the Centre.
During the session, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari blamed the PTI’s KP government for the circumstances that led to the imposition of emergency in the province, terming it a “political suicide attack”.
Bilawal began his speech by highlighting that emergency and governor’s rule in KP were measures taken under the Constitution.
Reading the relevant provisions, Bilawal asserted that the Centre tried its best to “engage the opposition so this step did not have to be taken”.
“They will have to accept, even if not publicly, but the responsible leadership of the opposition knows that the PTI itself carried out a political suicide attack on its KP government,” he remarked.
The PPP chief maintained that the PTI could not deny that its “leadership, particularly in the province had a key role in the political, constitutional and legal circumstances” at present.
Bilawal emphasised that the PPP’s stance was that “before employing this constitutional atomic bomb, we must engage with PTI and the opposition and try to address the federal government’s reservations that they were not supporting them in the war against terrorism”.
He observed: “If political space is restricted for one political party, it is impossible that it remains restricted for that particular party; it is limited for every political party, political worker and Pakistani citizen.
“We are responsible for this, but you cannot deny that you are also responsible for it,” he said.
Terming the imposition of emergency a “difficult decision”, Bilawal recalled alleged remarks by Sohail Afridi — the KP chief minister whose role is now non-functional — that he would not combat terrorism the way the Centre wanted.
“If this was not a political suicide, then what else was it?”
The Bhutto scion wondered if the opposition and Afridi had left any reason for President Asif Ali Zardari, who he said prides himself on passing the 18th Amendment, to “refuse to sign” the emergency proclamation.
He argued that due to the PTI’s actions and statements, neither the president, the Centre, nor he had any legal or political reason left for not imposing emergency in KP.
“But even today, I would recommend to the federal government that we extend our hand forward once again for negotiations, political discussions and try to find a resolution and a middle path,” Bilawal added.
The PPP chairman noted that emergency was “always a stopgap measure”.
“We cannot sustain the emergency forever,” he added, emphasising that while the counterterrorism fight would be better than before, an “all-of-society and all-of-country response” was needed to eradicate it completely.
Regarding the Oct 3 talks of a joint delegation of the PPP and the government with the opposition, Bilawal said, “Late at night, I was informed that congratulations, negotiations are succeeding.”
He said the PTI was willing to declare the areas in KP with surging terrorism as “terrorist areas”, and the opposition was about to agree that the federal and KP governments would sign a pact on joint efforts against terrorism. However, the dialogue collapsed.
The former foreign minister pointed out that the security challenges Pakistan was facing were “way more complicated” than before, adding that India “could still not digest […] its embarrassment” from the May 2025 conflict.
Referring to remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that its ‘Operation Sindoor’ was still ongoing, Bilawal said: “It means that India is still sponsoring terrorist incidents in Pakistan, sometimes in the form of TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and sometimes in the form of separatist terrorist groups.”
He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that India was involved in terrorist activities being conducted from across the Afghan border.
The ex-foreign minister then highlighted Islamabad’s role as a mediator in the US-Iran war.
“But there is a state — which we do not recognise as a state — that will neither be happy nor ever forget that you took this step. And those Zionist forces will and are interfering in Pakistan’s internal politics and state.”
Concluding his speech, the PPP chairman emphasised the need for building consensus on “some fundamental issues” for an empowered lower house.
“Even today, we are saying, come and at least begin from this house,” he said while addressing the opposition benches.
At one point during the proceedings, the NA speaker noted that the Oct 3 dialogue was held in a cordial atmosphere, praising both sides for “attempting more than their capacity that the matter is settled”.
However, he said some matters were beyond the parties’ control and voiced his support for forming the same committees for negotiations if ever needed in the future.
Gohar demands implementation of NAP
Speaking on the NA floor, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s said his party “rejected” the Centre’s move to impose emergency in KP.
He asked what “terrorism” Imran’s wife or sisters had allegedly been involved in that they had been put behind bars, or what the accusations were against the PTI MNAs and MPAs who he said were detained.
Gohar further said, “One person is not present in the house currently. When he comes during a joint session, then I will reveal the reality of the negotiations.”
He affirmed that the PTI had raised its voice against terrorism, adding that measures against the scourge must be taken according to the National Action Plan (NAP).
Responding to Gohar’s remarks, Bilawal said the PTI was busy in its long march while the people of KP were being targeted by terrorists.
Bilawal reiterated that the opposition could keep arguing against the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, but no one could deny that the decision was grounded in the Constitution.
“I cannot insist on the government to continue talks with PTI despite being defrauded multiple times,” the PPP chairman said.
Pointing towards Gohar and NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Bilawal said: “I believe that none of them is allied with terrorists. I believe that they will definitely want to combat terrorism; however, they cannot deny the fact that their former chief minister contradicted this fact.”
Bilawal again requested all the stakeholders to unite and combat terrorism collectively. He also called for the provision of all facilities to the incarcerated PTI founder.
‘Threat to national security’
Addressing the house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar explained that emergency was imposed in KP as the security situation there was becoming a threat to “national security”.
Tarar noted that after the proclamation of emergency was issued, the Constitution’s Article 232 required that both houses of the parliament approve the measure.
He recalled that the federal cabinet examined “material” regarding terrorism in the province during its Oct 11 meeting and then advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to recommend the imposition of emergency.
He noted that some people compared the measure to the emergency imposed by former dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf on Oct 12, 1999.
The minister particularly noted “internal disturbances” and cross-border infiltrations. He contended that the situation since Oct 15, 2025, when Sohail Afridi’s government came into power in KP, was “turning into a threat to national security to an alarming extent”.
He went on to highlight that there was a rise in terrorism in KP, especially after 2021, due to the approach of the provincial government.
“Perhaps there might be foreign, diplomatic and political reasons behind it, which got inflamed due to a political party’s point of view.”
Tarar stated that 2,911 incidents of terrorism took place between 2021 and 2024 in KP, but they surged to 3,787 incidents between Oct 15, 2025 and Oct 9, 2026.
He criticised the KP chief minister for ignoring martyred security and police personnel, and for instead preferring to promote his political designs and make visits across the country.
“Even this was announced that the federal capital will be conquered,” he said, referring to the party’s plan to hold a protest long march towards the federal capital.
The PML-N leader expressed his government’s gratitude to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for providing a platform for dialogue between the Centre and the opposition. He reiterated the government’s stance that the PTI had the agreement draft changed multiple times, but even then backed off from it.
Tarar observed that the PTI demanded the release of their party founder Imran Khan and his treatment in a private hospital despite knowing that only courts could provide such a relief.
He said two days would be “remembered in the country’s democratic history with regard to misfortune and a political party”.
On the emergency measure, the law minister noted that a special mechanism has been introduced for 12 districts of KP.
Speaking after Tarar, Achakzai criticised him for trying to prove that terrorism was not tackled in KP.
The opposition leader questioned the government’s mandate in the February 2024 general elections, quipping that the opposition would “surrender” if the minister could swear that the government won those polls fairly.
Achakzai alleged that the incumbent ruling coalition was formed “illegally”.
‘You do not have clean hands’
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif went on to recall the tenure of the PTI government in the Centre and assailed the party’s past actions.
Referring to ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s plan to resettle members of the TTP, he said PTI tried to convince the then-opposition that “bringing these terrorists back would be better for Pakistan”.
The PML-N leader mentioned the 2019 episode of an Indian pilot’s capture in Pakistan: “They had threatened and we were surrendering. The then-prime minister was saying, ‘What should I do? Attack India?’”
Asif urged the opposition to reflect on its past actions, adding that Imran often used to praise former army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
“As long as this contradiction remains in our words and actions and in our society, the circumstances of this country will not fix.”
He narrated his time behind bars during the PTI government, when Shehbaz “smuggled a blanket” to him to brace the low temperatures. “I used to eat the jail’s food,” he said, claiming that orders were given to remove the geyser when it was installed.
“But we did not hold rallies or mourn at D-Chowk or dig graves. We did not martyr police and law enforcement personnel,” Asif remarked.
“You demand equity when you have clean hands. You do not have clean hands, you cannot demand equity; this is a thousand-year-old principle,” he contended.
“You know very well what Gen Musharraf did to me. There was a 4x6 cell in Attock jail,” the PML-N politician said, emphasising that he stood with his party and ex-PM Nawaz Sharif.
Speaking on the current political situation, Asif alleged that Afridi used to “take directives […] from a person sitting in Afghanistan”.
He referred to a statement by the TTP condemning the imposition of emergency and deployment of troops in certain places. “Who is their ally and who is their rival?” he said.
The minister further countered the PTI’s stance that its leaders have not been able to meet Imran, who is imprisoned in the Adiala jail. “Meetings are held, [but] a lot of them are not publicised or brought on record,” he maintained.
Farooq Sattar urges PTI to ‘openly condemn terrorism’
In his remarks on the floor of the lower house, Farooq Sattar expressed Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) confidence in the decision taken by the prime minister.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, but so unavoidable that you had no other option,” Sattar said about imposing emergency and governor’s rule.
“We trust your decision as we trust your experience, capabilities, political acumen, and that you made this decision in the interest of the nation,” he added.
The MQM-P lawmaker contended that the PTI was “on the wrong side and does not have concrete arguments” to declare that the decision was baseless or made with political motives.
“The main issue is of the mindset,” he declared, adding that Imran had “publicly said that the war on terror is not ours”. “This is their policy. This is their mindset.”
Sattar questioned whether the KP government had ever published reports to expose terrorist hideouts and extremist trends. He further raised questions about the government’s pursuit of cases against suspected terrorists.
“Openly condemn terrorism; else, the allegation of backing [it], if a commission is formed and God forbid, it is proven in the inquiry that there is political extremism and terrorism complicity, there is a nexus, then where will you go?”
Sattar recounted his past MQM experiences, saying, “I have also suffered such times. A lot of times, the narrative coming from the top was difficult to defend. Today, I feel that Barrister Gohar is also not in the position to defend his [party’s] position on KP.”