Our sole non-political agenda was a united and unanimous policy against terrorism,” says Tarar

Ministers deny political motive behind KP emergency

ISLAMABAD: Federal ministers have rejected allegations that the government has a political agenda behind the imposition of an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), saying the decision aims to strengthen the fight against terrorism and improve coordination between federal and provincial institutions.

Briefing foreign media, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had increased by nearly 200 per cent, prompting the federal government to take action under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

Tarar stressed that Pakistan had been battling terrorism for decades and that the threat was not a recent development. He said security agencies and government institutions continued to work against militant groups, but effective results required stronger coordination and a unified approach.

“The federal and provincial governments operate within their respective constitutional and legal jurisdictions,” the law minister said, adding that cooperation between federal and provincial institutions remained essential to counter terrorism.

He maintained that the government had not pursued any political objective through the emergency decision. According to him, if the move had been politically motivated, the federal government could have taken it much earlier.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also criticised the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing it of failing to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the growing threat of terrorism.

He said the provincial government’s response to terrorism, along with the measures taken in the province, was part of the public record. He emphasised that tackling militancy required practical action, institutional cooperation and a clear commitment from all levels of government.

The information minister also highlighted the role of the Pakistan Army in enforcing the law and maintaining internal security. He said defending the country’s borders remained the army’s primary responsibility, while its role in supporting law enforcement contributed to efforts to preserve peace and stability.

Attaullah Tarar said the federal government’s principal objective was to develop a national consensus on counterterrorism rather than pursue political interests. He added that the government had made several attempts to engage the PTI and the KP government to reach an agreement on coordinated measures against terrorism.

The ministers maintained that Pakistan needed a unified national strategy to confront the security threat, arguing that political differences should not obstruct cooperation against militant violence. They stressed that lasting improvements in security would require consistent coordination, effective implementation of policy and joint efforts by federal and provincial authorities.