Sharifs Defend KP Emergency, Say Centre Was Compelled to Act
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N president Nawaz Sharif on Saturday defended the imposition of emergency and KP governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the premier saying the federal government had been “compelled” to act over security concerns and the elder Sharif arguing the intervention should have come much earlier.
The Centre imposed emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. Parliament endorsed the measures this week amid opposition protests.
Speaking in Gujranwala, the prime minister said the Centre had made a “last attempt” to avoid the emergency, pointing to rounds of talks held by a joint government-PPP delegation with the opposition. The second round, held on Oct 3, lasted several hours but ended without a breakthrough.
Dialogue exhausted before the move
“They had talks with them (PTI) day and night, for 48 hours, and sat with the intention to settle matters from every aspect,” PM Shehbaz said, adding that a draft agreement had been prepared under which the PTI was to call off its protest march.
The prime minister said he had held multiple meetings with Sohail Afridi, the KP chief minister whose role now stands non-functional, as well as with his predecessor Ali Amin Gandapur. He said he had assured them of the Centre’s support in jointly fighting terrorism, with decisions on administration and resources to be made in consultation with the provincial government.
“But, unfortunately, despite all these efforts, thousands of our law enforcement personnel, soldiers and officers of the armed forces were sacrificing their lives to defend the homeland,” he said, noting the government had instead faced “threats and long marches every other day”.
Why Nawaz says KP governor’s rule should have come earlier
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, speaking to journalists at his residence in London, fully backed the imposition of emergency and KP governor’s rule, saying the measures should have been taken much earlier as the law and order situation deteriorated.
The former prime minister said the situation in KP had become increasingly alarming under the PTI government and that federal authorities should have intervened before matters worsened further.
“This intervention was necessary to restore peace, improve governance and protect the interests of the people,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Azhar Javed, who was present at the media talk.
He accused the PTI of using provincial government resources for political confrontation with the federation. “Which country allows a chief minister to use official resources to attack the federal capital?” he asked. He also accused the PTI of damaging the province during its 13 years in power and neglecting ordinary citizens.
What the Oct 11 decision changed
The Oct 11 measures followed weeks of political tension and negotiations after the PTI announced a long march towards Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Under governor’s rule, executive authority has moved to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, with the elected provincial government’s authority suspended. The province is now administered from the governor’s office in coordination with the Centre, with security operations the stated priority. The move has drawn a mixed response: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier called governor’s rule a last option for KP, Khawaja Asif said it would be used only as a last resort, and Rana Sanaullah later tied it to counterterrorism cooperation.
The PTI, meanwhile, keeps its channels open. Party leaders said the doors remained open to a mediation offer from Maulana Fazlur Rehman, even as the long march convoy entered Peshawar on its fifth day.
*Source: Dawn*
When was emergency imposed in KP?
The federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Oct 11, 2026, citing the provincial government’s disengagement from counterterrorism. Parliament endorsed the measures during the week.
What did Nawaz Sharif say about KP governor’s rule?
Speaking in London, Nawaz Sharif fully backed the move, saying it should have been taken much earlier as KP’s law and order situation deteriorated under the PTI government. He accused the PTI of misusing provincial resources against the federation.
Who is running KP under governor’s rule?
Executive authority has been transferred to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, with the elected provincial government’s authority suspended. The Centre says security operations are the priority during the arrangement.
