Islamabad, Oct 13 Pakistan’s federal government on Tuesday claimed that people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have welcomed the imposition of governor’s rule, saying the measure has given them hope of improved security amid rising terrorist attacks.
Addressing a press conference alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that only a few people took to the streets against the decision, which showed that they supported the move.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday proclaimed an emergency under Article 232 and imposed governor’s rule under Article 234 of the Constitution, ending the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel has said the emergency and governor’s rule could extend beyond six months, depending on the security situation in the province.
“The people of KP have welcomed the step because they believe there is now hope for them. They believe they will now be provided with safety and security, their lives and livelihoods will be protected, and this political-crime nexus will be eliminated,” the information minister said.
During the press conference, the Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had witnessed a “195 per cent” increase in terrorist attacks, claiming that 8,600 such incidents were recorded during 2024-2026 compared with 2,900 during 2020-2024.
He said governor’s rule was imposed to ensure better coordination between federal and provincial authorities in the fight against terrorism.
“All these arrangements are made to run the country in a way that people feel safe,” he said.
Meanwhile, the federal government has formed an 11-member committee to oversee governance and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The committee will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. However, no official notification regarding its formation has been issued, the Dawn newspaper reported, quoting a source close to the prime minister.
The body will monitor governance and security issues in the province on a daily basis and report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the source.
The federal government has also authorised the deployment of Pakistan Army troops under Article 245 to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property.
The move came amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration over counter-terrorism policy and a protest march led by then chief minister Sohail Afridi demanding Khan’s release and access to medical treatment.
The PTI has rejected the federal government’s justification for the measure and challenged the emergency and governor’s rule, while the government has accused the former provincial administration of failing to adequately cooperate in efforts against militancy.
Khan, who has been in jail since 2023 and faces multiple cases, remains at the centre of the political confrontation between his party and the federal government.
His party has maintained that the cases against its founder are politically motivated, a charge rejected by the government.
(PTI News)
