Shehbaz, Zardari move to ease Centre-KP tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari held talks on Saturday to review the country’s political and security situation as tensions between the federal government and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa administration continued to rise.

The meeting took place at Aiwan-e-Sadr amid growing friction over counterterrorism policies in K-P and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ongoing march towards Islamabad. The escalating standoff has also raised concerns about possible federal intervention in the province, including the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also attended the meeting.

According to the Presidency, the participants exchanged views on the country’s political and security situation. It was also decided to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate on Tuesday.

In a separate development, Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss ways to reduce tensions between the federal and K-P governments.

The prime minister congratulated Fazlur Rehman on performing Umrah and invited him to the Prime Minister’s House for a meeting. The JUI-F chief accepted the invitation, and the meeting is expected to take place soon.

Fazlur Rehman also discussed the political deadlock with the prime minister, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said the conversation covered the current political situation and tensions between the two governments.

Ghauri added that Fazlur Rehman remained in contact with PTI leaders and had taken them into confidence as part of efforts to reduce political tensions. His involvement has raised hopes of renewed negotiations between the government and opposition.

PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar has said the party authorised Fazlur Rehman to mediate between the two sides. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has also called for unconditional dialogue, urging the government and opposition to find a political solution.

The latest contacts follow two rounds of negotiations that ended without an agreement. The main disagreements concern PTI founder Imran Khan’s access to meetings while in prison and the role of the K-P government in shaping counterterrorism policy.

PTI has called for a coordinated strategy between the federal and provincial governments. The federal government, however, has stressed the need for cooperation from the provincial administration on security matters.

Meanwhile, PTI’s long march continued on Saturday, with the convoy scheduled to travel from Charsadda to Mardan before moving towards Swabi. The protest began on October 4 after initial attempts to reach an agreement failed. PTI leaders have said the party will announce its next course of action after reaching Swabi.

Separately, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam met K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor House in Peshawar. The two discussed law and order, the PTI march and other political developments.

Both leaders thanked the people of K-P and said the public had rejected what they described as the politics of chaos. They also reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to maintaining peace and supporting development and public welfare in the province.

The political confrontation has fuelled speculation about possible emergency measures in K-P. Reports have suggested that the federal government is considering options that could include governor’s rule, an emergency declaration or a separate administrative arrangement for 12 districts.