DPM Dar defends emergency and governor's rule in KP, says measures not politically motivated

On the day following the imposition of governor's rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar defended the federal government's decision. Dar made these remarks while addressing a seminar in Islamabad. The government had imposed the emergency under Article 232 and the governor's rule under Article 234 in KP, citing the PTI-led provincial government's "deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism."

Dar stated that the move was not politically motivated and was aimed at combating terrorism, which had plagued the province for the past fifteen years.

He emphasized that it was the federal government's responsibility to take such measures if the situation demanded it. Dar mentioned his previous negotiations with the PTI in 2014 during a sit-in in Islamabad. Defending the decision further, he held it to be the federal government's responsibility to take such steps when it was certain that there was no other solution.

Dar also highlighted the "heavy political cost" the ruling party PML-N had to bear when the country was on the brink of default in 2022. He assured that the government had no choice but to implement the measures taken, as they aimed to restore peace, safety, and end radicalization in the province.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also defended the federal government's actions at the seminar. He spoke about counterterrorism, particularly the threat emanating from Afghan soil, warning against misconstruing Pakistan's desire for peace as weakness. Tarar highlighted Pakistan's role as a protector between terrorists and the rest of the world, emphasizing the sacrifices made by Pakistanis in the fight against terrorism.

He also discussed Pakistan's role in mediating between the United States and Iran, and its ongoing assistance to Afghan refugees.