Parliament endorses emergency and governor’s rule in KP 

A joint sitting of Pakistan’s Parliament has approved the federal government’s decision to impose an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deepening the political standoff between the Centre and the opposition. The development came as the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) announced an end to negotiations with the government over what it described as unconstitutional measures.

The two resolutions were presented by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary during Thursday’s joint sitting. Lawmakers endorsed the presidential proclamations issued on October 11 under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

The first resolution approved the emergency proclamation under Article 232, while the second endorsed the imposition of governor’s rule under Article 234. President Asif Ali Zardari had approved the measures on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The federal government has justified its decision by citing the deteriorating security situation in KP and concerns over the provincial administration’s response to terrorism. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which previously governed the province, has strongly opposed the move and questioned the constitutional and political basis for the intervention.

During the parliamentary debate, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the government’s actions, arguing that the security situation required urgent measures. He said the government had followed the constitutional process and considered relevant reports before seeking parliamentary approval.

Tarar also pointed to an increase in terrorist incidents in the province, maintaining that the authorities needed to address security challenges more effectively.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the federal government had repeatedly sought cooperation from the KP administration on counterterrorism efforts before proceeding with the emergency measures. He said discussions had continued until late at night as the Centre attempted to reach an understanding with the provincial government.

Naqvi maintained that the decision was driven by security concerns rather than PTI’s political activities. He also outlined five points of a proposed agreement with the opposition, which included further political engagement and cooperation against terrorism.

The opposition rejected the government’s justification and criticised the removal of the provincial administration. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan denied allegations that his party supported terrorism, saying it condemned terrorism in all forms.

Gohar questioned the decision to remove an elected provincial government and argued that the move undermined constitutional principles, democracy and the public mandate. He said PTI remained committed to protecting the Constitution and the people’s right to choose their representatives.

Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also opposed governor’s rule, describing it as contrary to the public mandate. He called for political disputes to be resolved through democratic and constitutional means and stressed that the right to dissent and peaceful protest should be protected.

The parliamentary approval came amid a wider breakdown in political negotiations between the government and opposition parties. TTAP, a multi-party alliance led by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, announced that it would no longer hold talks with the Centre over what it called unconstitutional actions.

The decision followed a meeting held on Wednesday under Achakzai’s chairmanship, attended by senior PTI leaders. According to the alliance’s declaration, participants reviewed the prevailing political situation and discussed their future strategy before deciding to suspend negotiations.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meanwhile, invited the opposition to resume dialogue during the joint sitting, signalling that the government remained open to political engagement despite the growing confrontation.

The approval of emergency measures and the opposition’s withdrawal from talks have further intensified tensions between the federal government and PTI. The dispute now centres on the constitutional justification for federal intervention in KP, the province’s security situation and the future of political dialogue between the rival sides.