Federal ministers on Sunday strongly defended the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the government had to choose between watching daily martyrdoms or taking a hard step. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the decision was not easy but necessary because of the serious security situation in the province.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Naqvi explained that the federal government had tried for more than a month to bring the PTI-led provincial government on board in the fight against terrorism. He said contacts continued until late night and even at 11:45 pm he personally called PTI leaders asking for a response so the situation could be avoided. According to him, the draft agreement was revised four times at PTI’s request, yet the party later backed out.
Naqvi made it clear that the government’s main concern was terrorism, not the party’s sit-in. He said he had held several meetings with Sohail Afridi and the only topic discussed was security. Four months earlier both sides had agreed to strengthen police capacity in five districts, and the Centre was ready to provide the needed funds.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar revealed that terror incidents in KP had jumped by 196 percent, calling the figure extremely alarming. He said terrorism had become a daily reality while the provincial government focused on politics instead of protecting citizens. Tarar added that the president acted fully within the Constitution under Articles 232 and 234. Under the emergency the governor will run the province with help from an 11-member advisory council, and a special secretariat has been set up for the 12 worst-affected districts.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar went further and accused the former PTI provincial government of having a nexus with terrorists. He claimed some districts had been effectively outsourced to militants and that clear evidence showed the province was being pushed toward destruction. The advisory council will include experienced technocrats and retired officers to help restore stability.
The ministers insisted the emergency was taken only in the national interest after every effort at cooperation failed.
