Pakistan’s ruling coalition has finalised plans to place Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under federal control through emergency provisions and governor’s rule as tensions escalate with the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called an emergency cabinet meeting for Sunday to consider the proposed measures, while separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate are scheduled for Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the developments, reports DAWN.
The move comes as PTI, which governs KP, presses ahead with its protest march, raising concerns over a possible confrontation with the federal government.
Sharif held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman on Saturday in an effort to ease the political standoff.
Fazlur Rehman subsequently met PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Asad Qaiser, warning them of possible federal intervention if the party continued its march.
A senior JUI-F leader said the party was working to facilitate dialogue between the government and opposition, although any final agreement would depend on the two sides.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had exhausted its efforts to reach an understanding with PTI, arguing that there was “no room left to avoid the imposition of an emergency in KP”.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar confirmed that the cabinet would examine both emergency powers and governor’s rule.
Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudhry said several options remained under consideration. He accused PTI of failing to cooperate with the federal government on counterterrorism efforts and making statements during the march that contradicted national policy.
Meanwhile, a senior KP government official said all deputy commissioners and district police officers across the province had been ordered to remain in their respective districts until further notice.
KP Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed also issued instructions to district police officers to prepare for possible violent demonstrations and sabotage if emergency rule was imposed.
Police stations have been directed to identify vulnerable locations along the protest route and deploy sufficient personnel to secure them.
