Sanaullah Ties End of K-P Governor’s Rule to PTI Backing Counterterrorism
The K-P governor’s rule debate took a new turn on Friday when Rana Sanaullah hinted the federal government could forgo interim governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if the PTI agreed to support law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.
The prime minister’s adviser on political affairs made the remarks in a television interview, urging political consensus on security. He said the federal government remained open to cooperation with the opposition.
Parliament ratified the measures a day earlier
The remarks came a day after a joint session of parliament adopted two resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P for two months. The opposition protested the move.
Before that, both houses of parliament had separately approved the emergency by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers.
The emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11, after negotiations between the government and the opposition failed. The breakdown followed a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4.
What Sanaullah said about the K-P governor’s rule
Speaking to a private news channel, Sanaullah said the government wanted all political parties to reach a consensus on counterterrorism. He argued that growing security challenges required a unified response from the federal and provincial governments.
He said the government’s primary demand from the opposition was that it stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies and its armed forces. The fight against terrorism had cost the country precious lives, including those of military personnel, he added.
Sanaullah maintained that political differences should not undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts. He stressed that the strategy against terrorism should not be questioned or made conditional on political demands.
A shift from last week’s position
The tone marks a shift from Sanaullah’s own position just a week ago. On October 9, he had insisted that talk of governor’s rule was about terrorism, not the PTI’s long march. Now he is offering the PTI a way out: back the counterterrorism effort, and the federal government may reconsider interim governance.
The remarks followed renewed political engagement involving Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and National Assembly opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Asked why the government was still pursuing negotiations after parliament had ratified the emergency measures, Sanaullah said the administration continued to seek consensus among political parties on matters of national security.
India-Israel nexus claims
Sanaullah attributed the latest wave of terrorism to India’s defeat in the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict, referred to in Pakistan as Marka-e-Haq. He said India had subsequently launched a covert campaign against Pakistan, which he called “Operation Sindoor 2”.
He alleged that India was using the Afghan Taliban as proxies, housing terrorists in training camps and funding them. He further claimed that Israel was providing technical training to terrorists in Afghanistan, enabling them to operate drones.
He argued that the federal and provincial governments needed a unified approach to eliminate the threat, calling it a challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty.
PTI arrests and the way forward
Commenting on the detention of PTI leaders, including Imran Khan’s sisters, Sanaullah alleged that those detained had been involved in planning or supporting unrest. He cited calls for attacks on the governor’s house and rioting in Islamabad.
He also accused the PTI’s social media team of operating like a mafia, using artificial intelligence and manipulated images to advance the party’s agenda. Those detained could be released, he said, if the PTI demonstrated it would not provoke unrest in the future.
On negotiations, Sanaullah said previous rounds had either produced agreements on specific matters or referred unresolved issues to a special committee of both sides. Other coalition voices have also framed governor’s rule as a last resort, while the defence minister earlier called it the final option. He contrasted the current government’s engagement with Imran Khan’s tenure, claiming the PTI founder had not contacted the then opposition leader during his four years in power.
Frequently asked questions
What did Sanaullah say about K-P governor’s rule?
Rana Sanaullah hinted the federal government could forgo governor’s rule in K-P if the PTI supports law enforcement agencies in counterterrorism, calling for political consensus on security.
When was governor’s rule imposed in K-P?
The emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11, 2026, and ratified by parliament on October 15 for two months under Article 232 of the Constitution.
What are Sanaullah’s allegations about India and Israel?
He alleged India launched a covert campaign against Pakistan after the May 2025 conflict, using the Afghan Taliban as proxies, and claimed Israel was training terrorists in Afghanistan to operate drones. These are the government’s claims; India and Israel have not responded in this report.
