Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari met at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday for a high-level meeting on the country’s political and security situation, as tensions between the Centre and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) continue to sharpen over terrorism in the province and the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad.
The meeting, the highest-level engagement so far on the unfolding crisis, comes at a moment when speculation is mounting over the possible imposition of emergency or governor’s rule in the province.
What was discussed at Aiwan-e-Sadr
The Presidency said on X that the two leaders “exchanged views on the country’s overall political and security situation,” Pakhtun Digital reported. No formal statement was issued beyond that brief description.
Those present included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Senator Sherry Rehman and other senior officials.
One outcome of the meeting was the decision to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, a move that signals the government intends to take the matter to the floor of Parliament.
Shehbaz Zardari Meeting: Centre-KP Tensions at the Core
The tensions between the federal government and the K-P government have grown steadily in recent weeks. At the heart of the dispute are two issues: the handling of terrorism in the province and the PTI’s long march to the federal capital, which has prompted warnings from Islamabad about the possibility of federal rule.
Meanwhile, the PTI’s long march moved from Charsadda to Mardan on Saturday. Two rounds of negotiations between the government and the PTI have ended without agreement. The sticking points remain the party’s demand for access to its jailed founder Imran Khan and the K-P government’s role in shaping counterterrorism policy.
Barrister Gohar, the PTI chairman, has called for unconditional dialogue. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has emerged as a possible mediator in the deadlock, authorised by PTI’s K-P president Junaid Akbar.
Fazlur Rehman’s expanding role
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz telephoned Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday. During the call, the JUI-F chief congratulated the prime minister on performing Umrah and invited him to the PM House.
The two leaders also discussed efforts to reduce tensions between the Centre and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. JUI-F spokesman Aslam Ghauri confirmed the call, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to defuse the standoff.
Fazl’s emergence as a potential bridge between the government and the PTI marks a notable shift. His authorisation by the PTI’s K-P leadership to mediate suggests that back channels remain active despite the public deadlock.
Governor’s rule speculation
The standoff has fuelled speculation in Islamabad and Peshawar about emergency or governor’s rule. Reports suggest that a proposal for a separate administrative arrangement covering 12 districts is under consideration, though no official confirmation has been offered.
In Peshawar, Adviser Amir Muqam met K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday to discuss the law and order situation in the province. The meeting reflects the Centre’s growing engagement with the provincial administration as the crisis unfolds.
With parliamentary sessions set for Tuesday and the long march continuing to advance, the coming days are likely to prove decisive for whether the confrontation is resolved through dialogue or escalates further.
