Gujranwala/Jaranwala, October 17,2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday defended the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), saying the move followed repeated attempts to engage the provincial government and opposition in efforts to address terrorism and security challenges.
Meanwhile, senior federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Tallal Chaudhry and Mohsin Naqvi, along with KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, criticised Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his objections to the federal government’s decision and his allegations concerning the province’s political and administrative future.
The Centre imposed emergency and governor’s rule in KP on October 11, citing what it described as the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from counterterrorism efforts. The move, endorsed by Parliament this week amid opposition protests, followed escalating tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which governs the province.
Shehbaz says all options were explored before emergency
Speaking during a visit to the residence of Rashid Bashir Virk in Gujranwala to offer condolences on the death of his father, former MNA Mahmood Bashir Virk, Prime Minister Shehbaz recalled the late Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker’s services before explaining the circumstances behind the federal government’s decision.
The prime minister said the Centre had made repeated efforts to resolve differences with the PTI and the KP government through negotiations, but the attempts had failed to produce an agreement.
He referred to talks involving a joint delegation of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the federal government, saying the discussions had continued for extended periods with the intention of resolving outstanding issues.
According to Shehbaz, a draft agreement had been prepared under which the PTI was expected to call off its planned long march to Islamabad. However, the negotiations, including the second round held on October 3, ended without a breakthrough.
The prime minister said he had held several meetings with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and his predecessor, Ali Amin Gandapur, urging them to cooperate with the federal government on security and development.
Shehbaz said he had assured the provincial leadership that the Centre would provide assistance in addressing the province’s security challenges and that decisions concerning administration, resources and other requirements would be taken in consultation with the chief minister.
He described KP as a beautiful province with courageous and honourable people, adding that the federal government remained committed to its development and prosperity.
However, he said the loss of personnel from law enforcement agencies and the armed forces in the fight against terrorism had made the situation increasingly serious.
The prime minister also criticised the PTI’s protest politics, referring to the party’s 2014 sit-ins in Islamabad and its November 2024 protest, which was accompanied by clashes.
He alleged that the PTI had planned another march that risked bloodshed, although the allegation was not independently substantiated in his remarks.
The decision to impose governor’s rule came after weeks of political confrontation, with the PTI announcing a march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. The federal government has accused the KP administration of failing to cooperate adequately in counterterrorism operations, while the PTI has maintained that it was being excluded from decisions affecting the province’s security.
Tallal Chaudhry rejects allegations of political motives
State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, speaking to the media in Jaranwala, rejected suggestions that governor’s rule had been imposed to strengthen the PML-N politically or remove the PTI from power for partisan reasons.
He described the arrangement as an administrative measure with a single objective: combating terrorism.
“I am upset. We did not expect Maulana sahab to consider this as spoils of war and seek his share in the absence of a PTI government in the province,” Chaudhry said, responding to reports that Fazlur Rehman had sought a role in the province’s new administrative setup.
He stressed that the federal government had no intention of establishing a political government in KP or distributing positions among political parties.
Chaudhry also rejected allegations that the move was intended to take control of the province’s natural resources, insisting that the decision had been taken after other options had been explored.
He said the federal government was prepared to implement the National Action Plan and work with all stakeholders to restore peace.
“Politics is possible only where there is peace,” he said, calling for collective action against militant groups.
The minister also alleged that there was a relationship or mutual-interest arrangement between the PTI and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He claimed that no PTI leader, gathering or member had been targeted by terrorists since 2015, contrasting this with attacks on political parties, security personnel and public gatherings.
Chaudhry further alleged that the TTP had nominated Imran Khan to a committee during earlier negotiations with the government and that the PTI founder had allowed the militant group to open offices in Peshawar.
He displayed a TTP press release that he said condemned the dismissal of the PTI-led provincial government. The claims and their implications for the relationship between the PTI and militant groups remain contested.
Khawaja Asif says opposition consultations failed
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking at a press conference in Sialkot, defended the federal government’s position and paid tribute to the sacrifices of security forces, officers and civilians in the fight against terrorism.
He said the government had engaged the PTI and other opposition leaders before imposing emergency and governor’s rule, but the consultations had failed to produce an agreement.
Asif criticised Fazlur Rehman over his allegations that the decision was intended to seize KP’s mineral resources. The defence minister said he had shared a list of individuals holding mining contracts in the province in response to those allegations.
He maintained that the situation in KP would have to improve before Parliament could consider rolling back the emergency measures.
“The situation will improve in KP,” he said, adding that Parliament could reverse the decision only if there were guarantees that security conditions in the province had improved.
Asif also said the government would ensure free and fair elections whenever they were held, stressing that all political parties would be able to participate.
KP governor responds to Fazlur Rehman
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also responded to Fazlur Rehman’s criticism, questioning the JUI-F chief’s position on the province’s administration and the allegations surrounding the new arrangement.
In a pointed remark, Kundi asked whether the land belonging to martyrs in Dera Ismail Khan was considered lawful when associated with one side but not another.
The governor reaffirmed that the new administrative arrangement in KP would continue to function.
His remarks came amid growing political disagreement over the reasons for imposing governor’s rule, the distribution of administrative authority and allegations that the move was linked to the province’s natural resources.
Mohsin Naqvi alleges Fazl wanted governorship
A day earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had alleged that the head of a political party was unhappy over being denied a position in the new KP setup, including the governorship.
Speaking to journalists in Lahore, Naqvi appeared to refer to Fazlur Rehman, who has criticised the federal government’s decision and accused it of reneging on commitments made during mediation efforts.
Naqvi alleged that the politician had relied on the establishment for decades to advance his political career and had benefited from the same system he now criticised.
He also called on political leaders to avoid fuelling unrest and instead contribute to restoring law and order in KP.
The interior minister said the province was facing serious security challenges and required peace, stability and cooperation among political stakeholders.
Fazlur Rehman questions the Centre’s justification
Fazlur Rehman has emerged as a vocal critic of the federal government’s decision, arguing that governor’s rule raises questions about provincial autonomy and the rights of the federating units.
Before the imposition of the measures, the JUI-F chief had held separate meetings with the federal government and the PTI amid efforts to break the deadlock between the two sides. Following the decision, he accused the Centre of going back on its commitments despite his attempts to mediate.
Addressing a rally in Multan on Thursday, Fazlur Rehman reiterated his objections and recalled that his party had raised reservations over the merger of the former tribal areas into KP under the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018.
He said his party had not opposed the merger itself but had argued that the political future of the people of the tribal areas should have been considered and that they should have been consulted.
Fazlur Rehman also questioned the federal government’s argument that inadequate provincial cooperation in counterterrorism had necessitated governor’s rule. He argued that the security situation in Balochistan was worse than in KP and questioned why similar measures had not been imposed there.
He alleged that the federal government’s decision was influenced by political considerations rather than security concerns.
His criticism has also extended to the concentration of power and the role of the military leadership in national affairs.
Maryam Nawaz criticises JUI-F chief
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also criticised Fazlur Rehman in a post on social media platform X.
She said a senior politician should not support those accused of facilitating terrorism, an apparent reference to the PTI and the federal government’s allegations against its provincial leadership.
Maryam argued that responsibility should instead be fixed for what she described as the deterioration of governance in KP due to incompetence, corruption and administrative failures.
She also criticised Fazlur Rehman’s remarks concerning Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The Punjab chief minister maintained that the PTI was responsible for the end of its government in KP.
Security and provincial autonomy at the centre of dispute
The controversy over governor’s rule has intensified the confrontation between the federal government, the PTI and other opposition parties, including the JUI-F and the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan, whose leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas have also criticised the move.
The federal government maintains that extraordinary administrative measures were necessary because of the security situation and the provincial government’s alleged lack of cooperation. The PTI, meanwhile, says it has been excluded from security-related decision-making and has called for a review of the counterterrorism policy.
The dispute also reflects broader disagreements over provincial autonomy, the management of natural resources and the role of political negotiations in resolving security challenges.
While the federal government has offered to work with all stakeholders under the National Action Plan, opposition leaders have questioned the legal, political and administrative justification for governor’s rule.
The coming weeks are likely to test whether the new arrangement can improve coordination against militancy while addressing concerns about provincial representation, constitutional authority and the restoration of normal democratic governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
