Khawaja Asif warns governor’s rule may be imposed in KP

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the federal government may consider imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if no other option remains, although he said authorities were trying to avoid taking what he called a “last option”.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday, Asif said there was no constitutional obstacle to imposing governor’s rule in the province. However, he stressed that the government would prefer to resolve the situation through other means.

“If there is no other way left, then we can use that option,” he said.

The minister strongly criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over its ongoing political campaign and planned long march towards Islamabad. He urged the party to behave as a political organisation and accused it of creating security challenges for the federal capital.

Asif alleged that the PTI had links with the Taliban and said the government had a responsibility to protect Islamabad from any threat. He described the Taliban as an anti-Pakistan force and criticised the provincial government for what he called its inadequate response to militant attacks in KP.

He also blamed internal divisions within the PTI for the breakdown of talks between the government and opposition. According to Asif, differences have increased within the party, with lawmakers, negotiators and allied groups seeking a solution that could be acceptable to all sides.

The minister also questioned the PTI’s demand for a meeting with Imran Khan before deciding whether to postpone its long march. He referred to the treatment of opposition leaders during the PTI government and argued that political disputes should be addressed through constitutional and parliamentary channels.

In a separate post on X, Asif accused the KP government of failing to respond adequately to the worsening security situation in the province. He alleged that the provincial administration had become disconnected from the victims of terrorism while concentrating on its political campaign.

Referring to the October 6 attack in Dera Ismail Khan, in which five people, including two customs officials, were killed, Asif criticised the provincial leadership for allegedly failing to offer condolences or visit the victims’ families.

He further accused the KP government of neglecting its responsibilities and claimed that public dissatisfaction with the provincial administration was growing in different parts of the province.

Asif said the situation could no longer be ignored and warned that the federal government would have to take “crucial decisions” if the security crisis continued.

He also compared the PTI’s conduct with that of the PML-N when it was in opposition, saying the latter had pursued its political struggle through parliament and the courts rather than taking actions that could threaten national stability.