Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the federal government was “seriously considering” imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The government has threatened to send the PTI government in KP packing by imposing governor’s rule or an emergency if the provincial leadership does not withdraw its plan to march on Islamabad on Oct 4.
The march — which the PTI has announced as part of its nationwide protest to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan — remains a major bone of contention between the government and the main opposition party, with both taking entrenched positions.
The federal ministers have also cited the security situation in KP in this connection.
In his latest remarks on the matter, Chaudhry while speaking to the media at Parliament House again referred to the security situation in KP and said the federal government was “seriously considering” the imposition of emergency in the province.
“The provincial government’s lack of interest or success in controlling it (terrorism) is the reason for which the imposition of emergency under Article 232 is being discussed,” he said, expressing confidence that the PPP — an ally of the ruling PML-N in the Centre — would also cooperate in this regard.
Separately, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that if the federal government consulted the party about imposing governor’s rule in KP, the party would “give its views strictly in accordance with the Constitution and law”.
According to a press release by the PPP, he called the law and order situation in the province deeply concerning.
Bukhari said peaceful protest was a democratic right, but “attacking the state under the guise of politics” was unacceptable.
“The government must ensure the rule of law and take effective measures to maintain peace and security,” the statement quoted Bukhari as saying.
He added the PPP had always believed in dialogue and that national issues could only be resolved “through meaningful political engagement”.
Regarding the invitation from the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) for a multiparty conference, Bukhari said the matter would be considered by the PPP’s Central Executive Committee, which would take the final decision, according to the press release.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed opposition to the imposition of a state of emergency or governor’s rule in KP, saying that it was “not the solution to the long march”. He warned that “non-democratic powers” would benefit if a state of emergency was imposed.
Speaking to the media at Parliament House, he reiterated that the long march would be peaceful.
Additional reporting by Ikram Junaidi
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