ISLAMABAD: The federal government has completed its deliberations on imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 232 of the Constitution, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Friday on the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, warning that the option would be exercised if the provincial government refused to cooperate on counterterrorism.
He refused to confirm reports that a high-level meeting was expected on Saturday to take a final decision on the emergency. “The matter of any decisive meeting is not final, nor has it been notified,” he said.
He had earlier denied any link between the emergency and the long march, a line he repeated on Friday.
Deliberations over; ball in KP government’s court
Asked about reports that the government was considering an emergency in 12 districts of the province, the minister said the deliberation phase was over. “The reality is that the government has completed its deliberation regarding the implementation of an emergency. Now it is in the hands of the KP government what role it plays in this regard.”
The Centre has been weighing the emergency option for weeks. Chaudhry said the Centre and law enforcement agencies had to end terrorism in the province “no matter what”, adding it would be better if the provincial government cooperated.
“But if they don’t want to get involved, then our other option is that after imposing an emergency, terrorism be wiped out, terrorists be eradicated – and as for that Article 232 … it is for the whole province, not just 12 districts,” he added.
On the districts described as “extremely affected by terrorism”, the minister said “extraordinary measures are the need of the hour”.
Emergency ‘definitively’ not linked to long march
When questioned, the minister categorically stated that the consideration of an emergency had “definitively no relation” to the PTI’s ongoing long march, adding that the two occurring at the same time “could be a coincidence”.
The Centre has warned the PTI-led provincial government in recent days that it could be sent packing through an emergency or governor’s rule, as the party presses ahead with a protest march demanding the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. Rana Sanaullah tied governor’s rule in K-P to counterterrorism cooperation, while Chief Minister Afridi rejected both options as the march moved through the province.
Chaudhry said the deliberations had been under way for a long time, as growing numbers of police and law enforcement personnel were being martyred in the province. He claimed many efforts had been made to bring the KP government on board, but it was “standing like a wall” in front of the Centre’s peace efforts.
“There is a cutoff point, at which one has to decide that the final and decisive elimination of terrorists must be done,” the minister said.
No date had been fixed for that “cutoff”, he said, but the federal government had concluded further delay in the fight against terrorism was not possible. “Terrorists cannot be given more time to keep carrying out these actions against citizens’ lives and properties and against LEAs.”
He emphasised that the final decision had “definitely” been made to take “decisive action to end terrorism in KP”.
Fazlur Rehman’s mediation offer
The minister said he had met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is said to have offered to help break the deadlock between the PTI and the federal government. The option remained on the table, he said, but “the ball is in the KP government’s court”.
“The PTI doesn’t even have consensus within their own party on whether they are ready to appoint Maulana Fazlur Rehman as an arbitrator for talks … so how can negotiations move forward?” he said.
He added that the door for negotiations and dialogue among political parties “never closes permanently”, and that an assurance of cooperation from the PTI leadership on counterterrorism was the “foundation for a permanent solution”.
What is Article 232?
Article 232 of the Constitution is the provision under which an emergency can be proclaimed. The minister said it would apply to the whole province, not just the 12 districts worst affected by terrorism.
Has a final decision been taken to impose the emergency?
Deliberations are complete, but no final decision has been announced. The option would be used if the KP government refused to cooperate on counterterrorism; no date has been fixed for the “cutoff”.
Is the emergency linked to the PTI’s long march?
The minister said it had “definitively no relation” to the PTI’s ongoing long march.
Read more: Dawn
