Pakistan’s ruling coalition has finalised a plan to bring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under federal control by invoking constitutional provisions for emergency and governor’s rule amid escalating tensions with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a federal cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the proposed measures, while separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate are scheduled for Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the developments.
The move comes as PTI, which governs KP, continues its protest march, raising fears of a confrontation with the federal government.
Sharif held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday to discuss ways to ease tensions. Fazlur Rehman also met PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Asad Qaiser to inform them about the government’s possible move if the party continued its march.
A senior JUI-F leader said the party was facilitating dialogue between the government and the opposition, but the final decision rested with both sides.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had exhausted its efforts to reach an understanding with PTI, adding that “there was no room left to avoid the imposition of an emergency in KP.”
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar confirmed that the cabinet would discuss the options of emergency and governor’s rule. Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudhry said several options were being considered, accusing PTI of failing to cooperate with the federal government on counterterrorism efforts and making statements against national policy during the march.
A senior KP government official told that all deputy commissioners and district police officers across the province had been instructed to remain in their respective districts until further orders.
Meanwhile, KP Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed issued guidelines to district police officers to prepare for possible violent protests and sabotage if emergency rule is announced. Police stations have been directed to identify vulnerable locations along the protest route and deploy adequate personnel to protect them.
Source: The Dawn