'Let facts remains facts': Naqvi says govt had 'no option' but to impose emergency, governor's rule in KP

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi urged the opposition to focus on the facts during their discussions with the government, stating that the Centre had "no option left" but to impose emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This decision was made on October 11 due to the provincial government's "deliberate disengagement" from the fight against terrorism.

The move came after weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which was in power in KP, as well as negotiations to resolve their differences following the latter's announcement of a long march to Islamabad demanding the release of its founder, Imran Khan.

During Thursday's joint session of Parliament, Naqvi provided a "clarification" on allegations made by the opposition and claimed that the Centre had tried their best to include the KP government in the fight against terrorism. He mentioned that the government wanted a meeting of the provincial apex committee to discuss the issue.

Naqvi also recalled that personnel were martyred in an attack on the same day as the emergency's imposition, which took place in February. He emphasized that the KP Chief Minister attended the funerals of army officers and soldiers on that day, which was the last time he attended any such funeral.

Naqvi stated that he and his colleagues were not considering the opposition's concerns about terrorism when they imposed the emergency and governor's rule. He acknowledged that everyone present during the October 3 talks between the government and the opposition shared a clear stance on combating terrorism. Resolutions endorsing the imposition of emergency and governor's rule were passed by both Houses of Parliament the day before the joint session, following Article 232 and Article 234 of the Constitution. However, these measures are set to expire within six months unless approved by a joint sitting.