KP Emergency Was Becoming a Threat to National Security, Tarar Tells National Assembly
ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was imposed because the province’s security situation was becoming a threat to “national security”. The KP emergency, proclaimed on October 11, was the subject of a dedicated debate after the question hour session was suspended.
Unexpectedly, opposition members sat calmly through the proceedings and staged no protest. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the motion regarding the proclamation of emergency, while the law minister opened the discussion.
Addressing the house, Tarar noted that after the proclamation of emergency was issued, Article 232 of the Constitution required both houses of parliament to approve the measure. He recalled that the federal cabinet had examined “material” regarding terrorism in the province during its October 11 meeting and then advised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to recommend the imposition of emergency.
Tarar defends KP emergency with terrorism figures
Tarar recalled that some people had compared the measure to the emergency imposed by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on October 12, 1999. The minister particularly noted “internal disturbances” and cross-border infiltrations as grounds for the step.
He contended that the situation since October 15, 2025, when Sohail Afridi’s government came into power in KP, was “turning into a threat to national security to an alarming extent”. He said there had been a rise in terrorism in KP, especially after 2021, which he linked to the approach of the provincial government. “Perhaps there might be foreign, diplomatic and political reasons behind it, which got inflamed due to a political party’s point of view,” he said.
The minister placed figures before the house: 2,911 incidents of terrorism took place between 2021 and 2024 in KP, but they surged to 3,787 incidents between October 15, 2025 and October 9, 2026. He criticised the KP chief minister for ignoring martyred security and police personnel, and for instead preferring to promote his political designs and make visits across the country.
“Even this was announced that the federal capital will be conquered,” he said, referring to the party’s plan to hold a protest long march towards Islamabad.
Government defends talks record
The PML-N leader expressed the government’s gratitude to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for providing a platform for dialogue between the Centre and the opposition. He reiterated the government’s stance that the PTI had the agreement draft changed multiple times during negotiations, but backed off even then.
Tarar said the PTI had demanded the release and shifting of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, despite knowing that only courts could provide such relief. Dawn reported the minister’s address.
The address builds on the government’s earlier defence of the emergency. Read our report on Tarar’s press conference on the KP emergency, the joint opposition’s criticism of the move, the PPP’s defence of governor’s rule, and Sohail Afridi’s charging in the Radio Pakistan attack case.
What does Article 232 require?
Article 232 of the Constitution governs the proclamation of emergency. Once issued, the proclamation must be laid before and approved by both houses of parliament. Wednesday’s National Assembly debate was part of that constitutional process.
Why did the government impose the KP emergency?
According to Tarar, the federal cabinet reviewed “material” on terrorism in KP at its October 11 meeting and concluded the provincial government’s approach had allowed militancy to surge, with 3,787 incidents recorded between October 2025 and October 2026.
How is this different from Musharraf’s 1999 emergency?
Tarar himself raised the comparison in the house, but the government argues the current proclamation followed a cabinet decision and is being placed before parliament for approval under Article 232, unlike the 1999 military takeover.
