Centre was compelled to impose emergency in KP, PM reiterates

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized on Saturday that the Indian Center was obliged to impose emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) due to the provincial government's failure to collaborate in combating terrorism. The decision, made on October 11, was justified by the Centre citing the "deliberate disengagement" of the provincial government from the fight against terrorism. The choice was also confirmed by Parliament amid opposition protests.

During his visit to Gujranwala, PM Shehbaz paid tribute to the late MNA Mahmood Bashir Virk's services before reiterating that the Centre had made a "final attempt" at resolving the issue. This attempt involved multiple rounds of discussions with the PTI-led provincial government and opposition, spanning 48 hours. However, these talks did not yield any progress.

The premier highlighted his numerous meetings with Sohail Afridi, the former KP chief minister, and his predecessor Ali Amin Gandapur, assuring them of the Centre's support in combating terrorism and addressing security challenges in the province. Despite these efforts, thousands of law enforcement agencies personnel, soldiers, and armed forces officers continued to lose their lives defending the nation.

PM Shehbaz criticized the PTI-led KP government for allegedly having a "nexus" with terrorist groups, accusing them of threats and staging sit-ins, drawing parallels to the 2014 sit-ins led by Imran Khan's brother, Nawaz Sharif. He alleged that the PTI had an entire plan for bloodshed in October as well. The Centre and the PTI have been in conflict over counterterrorism policy, with the Centre denying the opposition's claims of exclusion from security decisions in KP.