Centre done mulling emergency, option to be availed if KP does not cooperate on counterterrorism: minister

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry revealed on Friday that the Centre had completed its deliberations on the possible imposition of a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) if the provincial government does not cooperate in countering terrorism. During a Geo News program, Chaudhry cautioned that the Centre might enforce a state of emergency and subsequently eradicate terrorism if the KP government fails to cooperate.

The minister dismissed reports of a high-level meeting to decide on an emergency, stating that the matter was not final and had not been officially notified. He acknowledged that the Centre had been warning the PTI-led KP government of potential action, including sending it to an emergency or governor's rule, due to the party's ongoing protest march demanding the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.

Chaudhry also mentioned that the Centre and law enforcement agencies had no choice but to eliminate terrorism in KP regardless of the provincial government's cooperation. If the government did not engage, the Centre would consider imposing an emergency and then eradicate terrorism and terrorists from the entire province under Article 232.

Despite the long march's occurrence, Chaudhry emphasized that the Centre's deliberations on an emergency declaration were ongoing due to the increasing number of police and LEA personnel martyred in the province.

He denied that the long march was connected to the consideration of an emergency, stating that the Centre had been making efforts to engage the KP government, but they were met with resistance. Chaudhry mentioned the possibility of a cutoff point for decisive action against terrorism, although no specific date had been determined. He affirmed that the federal government had concluded further delay in the fight against terrorism was no longer feasible.

The minister highlighted that the final decision to take decisive action to end terrorism in KP had been made. He noted that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had offered to mediate in negotiations between the PTI and the federal government, but the ball was in the KP government's court. Chaudhry acknowledged that the PTI leadership had not reached consensus on appointing Rehman as an arbitrator for talks, which hindered the progress of negotiations.

He stressed that the door for negotiations and dialogue among political parties would never close permanently, and cooperation from the PTI leadership on counterterrorism efforts was crucial for a permanent solution.