Islamabad, October 11,2026: Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi said on Sunday that the federal government had spent more than a month trying to secure the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism before introducing emergency measures in the province.
Addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Naqvi said repeated attempts to reach an agreement with the provincial government had failed to produce a breakthrough.
He said he had personally remained in contact with KP officials to secure their cooperation against terrorism and that the federal government had addressed demands raised by the other side before the announcement of the PTI’s long march.
According to Naqvi, the draft agreement had been revised several times, with the government finalising it on three occasions before the other side sought further changes during the fourth round of negotiations.
He said the government subsequently finalised five or six points, but another draft was presented by the opposing side.
The interior minister added that the provincial chief minister had been informed a day earlier that the agreed terms would be accepted in full.
Naqvi said he remained in contact with PTI leaders until 11:45pm on Saturday, with the government repeatedly asking them to identify the changes they wanted in paragraph four of the draft agreement.
During his final telephone conversation around midnight, he said, he urged the other side to reconsider its position and asked whether the planned action could be delayed. However, he received no response.
Naqvi also said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday and subsequently held talks with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Fazlur Rehman later contacted the prime minister again, but the efforts failed to resolve the differences.
The interior minister said the federal government had repeatedly clarified that it had no objection to a sit-in, but its primary concern was terrorism and the need for the KP administration to join the fight against militants.
He criticised provincial leaders for what he described as their failure to attend the funerals of terrorism victims, even when they were present in the same city.
Naqvi maintained that the federal government had initiated contact during each round of negotiations rather than waiting for the other side to take the first step.
Tarar alleges links between PTI government and militants
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the federal cabinet had discussed the provincial situation and expressed concern over alleged links between the PTI-led KP government and militants.
He said reports presented to the cabinet had painted a serious picture, alleging that militants had been given control of police stations in several districts through subletting arrangements.
Tarar further alleged that those undermining peace had been empowered and that a power-sharing arrangement was emerging between militants and the provincial government.
Referring to victims injured in the Kohat blast, the information minister said they had called for an end to the prevailing situation and questioned why militants were being allowed to operate freely.
He accused the provincial leadership of pushing KP towards destruction. The allegations were presented as the federal government’s position.
Law minister cites 196% rise in terrorist incidents
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the KP governor had sent a letter outlining serious concerns about the province’s situation and had fulfilled his constitutional responsibilities.
He cited a reported 196 per cent increase in terrorist incidents over the preceding two years, adding that casualties, injuries and attacks on installations had also increased.
Tarar said the situation required collective deliberation and maintained that the federal government and the president had acted within the constitutional framework.
He said another attempt had been made to negotiate with the provincial government on Saturday, but the positions of both sides remained unchanged.
Against this backdrop, the federal government had introduced emergency measures in KP, he said, adding that the circumstances warranted the exercise of the relevant constitutional powers.
Tarar said powers had been delegated to the governor and an advisory council established to oversee key administrative matters.
He added that 12 districts were experiencing conflict and that a secretariat had been established to supervise their affairs and report to the federal government.
The provincial administration, he said, was operating under the governor’s leadership.
Five-member advisory council announced
The federal government has named five individuals to an advisory council tasked with overseeing key administrative portfolios in the province.
Former inspector general of prisons Kifayatullah Khan has been assigned the home affairs portfolio, while former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha will oversee finance.
Aamir Javed, who has also served as advocate general, has been assigned the law portfolio.
Dr Syed Aamir Abdullah, a former provincial minister in the caretaker administration, will oversee education.
Lieutenant General (retd.) Nigar Johar, the first woman in Pakistan to attain the rank of lieutenant general, has been assigned the health portfolio.
