ISLAMABAD: The federal government is considering imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) march towards Islamabad, with sources claiming that a federal cabinet meeting has been scheduled to discuss the move.
The development follows a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday, attended by senior government officials and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders.
The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, among others.
PPP representatives at the meeting included Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim Hussain.
According to a statement issued by the President House, the participants agreed to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate on October 13.
Sources said a federal cabinet meeting had been scheduled for 9:30am on Sunday to consider the proposed emergency in KP. However, no formal decision had been announced at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke by telephone with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and congratulated him on performing Umrah.
The prime minister subsequently invited the JUI-F leader to the Prime Minister’s House for a meeting, an invitation Fazlur Rehman accepted.
During the discussion, the JUI-F chief again urged the government to engage in negotiations with the PTI to resolve the ongoing political crisis, cautioning against resorting to emergency measures or governor’s rule in the province.
He reiterated his support for meaningful dialogue between the government and the opposition to find a political solution.
Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed Fazlur Rehman on the government’s efforts to initiate talks with the opposition and said his administration was making every possible effort to resolve the dispute through mutual understanding, sources said.
Fazlur Rehman also asked the prime minister to take his party’s core committee into confidence. He sought additional time to consult opposition and PTI leaders on a possible way forward.
The JUI-F chief later contacted opposition figures and PTI leadership in Islamabad as part of efforts to address the political impasse, according to sources.
Speaking to media Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said no official decision had been taken regarding the imposition of an emergency or governor’s rule.
He said the federal cabinet would decide on Sunday whether to introduce an emergency, impose governor’s rule or consider both options.
Kundi criticised Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, arguing that he should step down if he was unable to ensure the protection of the province’s residents.
The governor also ruled out the prospect of further negotiations with the PTI-led provincial government. He claimed that several party members were either in custody or surrendering to authorities.
Kundi accused the PTI of avoiding meaningful dialogue and relying on confrontation and unrest to pursue its demands.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also indicated that the government’s options for avoiding an emergency might be running out.
Speaking informally to journalists, Naqvi was asked whether there was still an opportunity to prevent such a move.
He responded by asking reporters to suggest how the situation could be brought under control and urged them to seek clarification from the parties involved about the efforts made to resolve the dispute.
Naqvi maintained that he had made extensive efforts to find a solution, adding that the relevant parties could explain the extent of those attempts.
His remarks came as the government weighed its response to the continuing political confrontation.
Separately, authorities have imposed Section 144 across Rawalpindi district for one month, from October 10 to November 8, according to an official notification.
The restrictions prohibit public gatherings, rallies, processions, sit-ins and protests. The assembly of five or more people has also been banned under the notification.
Other prohibited activities include carrying weapons, sticks and petrol bombs, riding two people on a motorcycle and using loudspeakers.
Officials said the restrictions had been introduced in view of security concerns. Legal action would be taken against those violating the orders.
Relations between the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the federal administration have remained strained over several issues, particularly counterterrorism policy.
The federal government has repeatedly urged the provincial administration and the PTI to support its counterterrorism efforts and abandon what it describes as extremist politics. However, the dispute has continued without a clear resolution.
On October 4, the PTI launched a march towards Islamabad, demanding the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan, and what the party describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and faces multiple cases, including allegations involving corruption and terrorism. His imprisonment followed a series of legal proceedings after his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
The proposed emergency measures have added another dimension to the confrontation, while calls for negotiations continue amid uncertainty over the federal government’s next steps.
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