The federal government could consider reversing direct rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if the PTI agrees to stand with law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs has said. The Sanaullah K-P direct rule offer opens a possible off-ramp in the province’s deepening political crisis.
Rana Sanaullah, speaking to a private news channel on Friday, said all political parties had to reach a consensus on counterterrorism given the growing security challenges facing the country.
Sanaullah’s K-P direct rule offer
The core government demand, Sanaullah said, is that the opposition stands with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies and the armed forces in the fight against terror, a fight he said had already cost many lives, including those of military personnel.
Political differences should not undermine counterterrorism efforts, he added, insisting the strategy “should not be questioned or made conditional on political demands”.
Sanaullah also defended the government’s decision to pursue negotiations with the PTI despite parliament’s ratification of the emergency and governor’s rule in K-P, saying the administration still wanted a national consensus on security.
The K-P emergency backdrop
The remarks come against a tense backdrop. The federal government had earlier moved towards an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa over the province’s security situation, a step Feature Pakistan covered when the centre first signalled it was seriously considering the move. Parliament has since ratified the emergency and governor’s rule, placing the province under direct federal administration.
The PTI, which governed K-P, has challenged the move in the courts. Under governor’s rule, the province is administered directly by the federation through the governor, sidelining the elected provincial setup. The party’s ally Mahmood Khan Achakzai has claimed Imran Khan is being pressured into a political deal, and the Peshawar High Court is hearing a challenge to the emergency. Sanaullah’s offer is the first public signal that the federal government might roll the measure back in exchange for the PTI’s cooperation on security.
Whether the PTI accepts the condition remains the open question. The party has framed the emergency as a political move against it, while the government insists the security situation left it with no choice.
Original reporting: Tribune.
Frequently asked questions
What did Rana Sanaullah say about K-P’s direct rule?
He said the federal government could consider reversing interim governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa if the PTI agrees to support law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.
Why is K-P under direct federal rule?
The federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in the province, citing the deteriorating security situation, and parliament has ratified the decision.
Has the PTI responded to the offer?
There was no immediate response from the PTI to Sanaullah’s remarks at the time of publication.
What happens next?
The Peshawar High Court is hearing a challenge to the emergency, while the government says it wants a political consensus on counterterrorism before any reversal.
