NA approves emergency in KP amid opposition uproar

The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a resolution endorsing the emergency imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the government securing a majority vote despite strong opposition from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers.

The resolution was presented by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Opposition members protested the move and opposed a motion to suspend the question hour. However, the House adopted the motion by a majority vote before proceeding with the emergency resolution. The session was later adjourned until Friday at 11am.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the federal government’s decision, arguing that the provincial government’s approach to counterterrorism had become a threat to national security. He said the Constitution required a presidential proclamation of emergency under Article 232 to be presented before both houses of Parliament for approval within 10 days.

The federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP on October 11, suspending the PTI-led provincial administration. The move followed growing tensions between the Centre and the provincial government over security challenges, rising militant attacks and coordination on counterterrorism operations.

Addressing the National Assembly, Tarar said the decision followed extensive consultations and a detailed assessment of the province’s security situation. He revealed that the federal cabinet had spent around two and a half hours discussing the matter before recommending the emergency measures.

The minister said the government was concerned about the rise in terrorist activities since 2021. He accused the PTI-led provincial administration of failing to give sufficient attention to security challenges and said counterterrorism efforts required close cooperation between federal and provincial authorities.

Tarar also criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, alleging that the provincial leadership had prioritised political activities over supporting security personnel and families affected by terrorism. He said the provincial leadership should have visited injured personnel, attended the funerals of those killed in attacks and supported the families of deceased police officers and soldiers.

The minister argued that an extraordinary security situation required an equally serious response. He questioned whether the provincial government had fulfilled its responsibility to coordinate daily security meetings, prepare action plans and ensure their implementation.

He further alleged that political statements about marching towards and taking control of the federal capital had added to tensions at a time when the province was facing serious security challenges.

Tarar maintained that the federal government had attempted to resolve its differences with the provincial administration through dialogue rather than force. He praised National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq for facilitating discussions and said several government representatives had made efforts to find a democratic solution.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam were among those involved in the negotiations. The Pakistan Peoples Party also participated in the process.

According to Tarar, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari nominated Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Aijaz Jakhrani to join the discussions following directions from the president.

He said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas represented the opposition during the negotiations, with both sides holding discussions over two days. However, the efforts failed to prevent the federal government from proceeding with emergency measures.

Tarar said political disputes and legal questions should be addressed through constitutional and judicial channels. He maintained that courts had the authority to intervene in legal proceedings and determine matters relating to the release of an imprisoned person.

The approval of the resolution marks another major development in the political dispute between the federal government and PTI. The opposition has strongly criticised the emergency measures, while the government maintains that the decision was necessary to address security concerns in the province.