Govt weighs governor’s rule, emergency options in KP

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is set to hold a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review the security and law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the possible imposition of governor’s rule or emergency measures expected to come under discussion.

The meeting at the Prime Minister’s House is likely to take place after 2pm and will be attended by federal ministers and senior officials. The participants are expected to assess the overall security situation in the country, with particular focus on developments in KP.

Officials are expected to discuss concerns about the provincial government’s handling of security challenges and its coordination with federal institutions. Constitutional provisions, including Articles 233 and 234, may also be examined in relation to possible emergency measures and governor’s rule.

The development comes amid an ongoing dispute between the federal government and the KP administration over security and political matters. Federal ministers have accused the provincial government of prioritising political activities while failing to provide adequate support to institutions dealing with the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The KP government has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the federal authorities are responsible for dealing with the security situation and that the provincial administration remains committed to addressing law and order challenges.

Political tensions have also increased over the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned long march towards Islamabad. The party has announced that the protest will proceed despite government concerns and security restrictions.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai has written to party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, urging the leadership to reconsider the planned march. The request has added another dimension to the ongoing debate within the party over the timing of the protest.