Bilawal links end of KP governor’s rule to anti-terrorism consensus

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be lifted if the opposition agrees on a joint strategy to combat terrorism.

Speaking to the media in Karachi on Sunday, Bilawal called for political unity and urged opposition parties to engage with the federal government to develop a common policy against militant groups. He said a shared commitment to counterterrorism could create conditions for ending the emergency measures in the province.

Bilawal made the remarks during a visit to the Karsaz Monument to mark the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz bombing. His statement comes a week after the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in KP, accusing the provincial government of failing to cooperate adequately in the fight against terrorism.

The PPP chairman expressed concern over the growing security challenges facing the country. He said attacks were taking place in different parts of Pakistan, including Khyber and Khuzdar, while security personnel, law enforcement agencies and civilians continued to face threats.

Bilawal criticised the previous government’s decision to allow members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. He also referred to the release of militants from Pakistani prisons, arguing that these decisions had contributed to the country’s current security difficulties.

He said Pakistan needed a united national response to terrorism and stressed that counterterrorism efforts could not succeed without the participation of all political parties and citizens.

Bilawal defended the decision to impose governor’s rule in KP, saying the PPP was prepared to support efforts against militants. He also criticised the provincial leadership over its approach to the security situation and said his party was ready to work with others to protect the country.

The PPP chairman recalled his party’s counterterrorism efforts during its previous tenure, saying the government had worked to build public support for security operations and introduce institutional reforms. He called for a renewed National Action Plan and a broader political consensus to address the threat.

Bilawal said he had raised the need for a new national strategy during his address to the National Assembly. He also invited opposition parties to participate in the federal government’s proposed electoral reforms committee, arguing that political forces concerned about the state of democracy should contribute to strengthening democratic institutions.

On the creation of new provinces, Bilawal said the PPP supported the establishment of new administrative units in accordance with the Constitution and the law, provided the relevant provincial assembly agreed. He cited Gilgit-Baltistan as an example of a region where there was broad political support for constitutional rights.

He said the issue should not be used for political point-scoring and urged politicians from both government and opposition benches to avoid politicising counterterrorism measures.

Bilawal reiterated that a collective approach was essential to defeating terrorism, adding that meaningful progress would require political parties to set aside their differences and agree on a common strategy.