Govt says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emergency aimed at unified counterterrorism policy

Federal ministers defended the imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, citing rising terrorism and the inability to reach a joint agreement on counterterrorism strategies. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar addressed a news conference for foreign media, stating that the federal government had made repeated attempts to secure cooperation from the PTI-led provincial government, but talks failed to produce a final agreement.

The ministers argued that federal and provincial authorities needed to coordinate efforts to address the security situation, emphasizing that one country cannot have two policies on terrorism. During the talks, the PTI insisted that counterterrorism measures should be based on a joint agreement, involving consultation with political parties in the provincial assembly, while opposing collateral damage and advocating for policies supported by local communities.

The ministers defended the imposition of emergency rule under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, arguing that it provided a constitutional mechanism for dealing with extraordinary circumstances. They cited official figures showing a significant increase in terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 2021 and 2024, with an increase of nearly 200% to around 8,600 incidents.

The ministers also presented figures from 2025 and 2026, indicating a further rise in terrorism-related fatalities and attacks targeting police. They questioned whether sufficient steps had been taken to strengthen the provincial Counter Terrorism Department and other measures to combat the issue. The ministers defended the emergency measures as intended to improve security and service delivery in the province, amid political differences over responsibility for the worsening security situation and the approach to counterterrorism.