Emergency covers entire KP, not just 12 districts, says law minister

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has clarified that the emergency imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 232 of the Constitution applies to the entire province, rather than only the 12 districts affected by terrorism.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday, the law minister said a separate administrative mechanism had been established to support the 12 districts facing serious security challenges. He said a dedicated secretariat would operate under the chief executive to coordinate assistance and implement additional measures in these areas.

Azam Nazeer Tarar said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had witnessed a significant increase in terrorist activity in recent years. Citing government figures, he claimed that 8,600 terrorist incidents had been recorded between 2024 and 2026, compared with 2,900 between 2020 and 2024, representing an increase of 195 per cent.

The minister stressed that federal and provincial authorities needed to coordinate their counterterrorism policies to address the growing security challenges. He said a unified approach was necessary to ensure public safety and improve the effectiveness of security operations.

Criticising the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, Azam said its approach towards security issues had been inadequate. He alleged that political considerations had taken priority over national interests and argued that the situation required stronger coordination between the federal and provincial administrations.

Recalling previous political tensions, the law minister said the PTI had used provincial government resources during its political activities in Islamabad. He added that the federal government had not considered imposing emergency or governor’s rule at that time.

The minister also referred to attacks on police personnel and security forces deployed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the deaths of civilians. He said the reported increase in terrorist activity and the deteriorating security situation could not be ignored.

Azam said the federal government had maintained contact with provincial authorities before taking its decision. However, he claimed that the provincial administration had responded differently to the concerns raised by the Centre.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, meanwhile, defended the federal government’s decision, rejecting allegations that the move was politically motivated. He said the objective was to establish a coordinated national policy against terrorism rather than target the PTI.

The information minister also claimed that residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had welcomed the decision because it offered hope for improved security. He argued that public opposition would have been more visible if people had supported the provincial government’s alleged approach towards terrorism.

Attaullah questioned how different governments within a single country could pursue separate counterterrorism policies. He maintained that no administration should adopt an approach that could enable terrorist groups to operate.

Referring to Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, the ministers said the provisions had been included to address exceptional circumstances involving serious national and provincial challenges. They argued that the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa required extraordinary measures.

The federal government’s decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties, which have demanded the withdrawal of emergency and governor’s rule and called for the restoration of the province’s elected government. The dispute has intensified political tensions between the Centre and the PTI leadership over provincial autonomy, constitutional authority and responsibility for addressing terrorism.