ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the Centre is “seriously considering” imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the “worsening security situation in the province”.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament House on Wednesday, the minister said that the government is considering the imposition of emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution, citing the KP government’s alleged failure to curb terrorism.
“The federal government is seriously considering the imposition of emergency in KP,” he said, adding that terrorism had increased rapidly in the province.
The remarks came amid heightened political tensions between the federal and KP governments, as PTI prepares for its October 4 long march towards Islamabad. The party had postponed the march from September 27 to October 4.
The former ruling party is preparing for a major protest and march on Islamabad, demanding the release of its jailed founder Imran Khan and the “restoration” of constitutional supremacy.
The federal government has maintained that the security and law-and-order situation surrounding the planned protest remains a concern.
Minister Chaudhry said the proposed emergency is being considered because of the KP government’s “failure to counter terrorism and maintain law and order”.
“KP government had become an obstacle to the federal government’s efforts to prevent terrorism,” he added.
The minister said that the decision would not be taken due to political differences with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He maintained that the federal government is prepared to bear any political cost for what he described as a larger objective, saying that it was ready to face whatever political repercussions might arise from imposing an emergency.
The minister said people and personnel responsible for maintaining law and order were losing their lives amid the deteriorating security situation in the province.
Comparing the situation with Balochistan, Chaudhry said terrorism also existed there, but the provincial chief minister was taking measures to prevent it.
The minister also said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had always fought terrorism with full force and would cooperate with the government if an emergency were imposed in KP.
Meanwhile, a PPP delegation led by Senator Naveed Qamar will meet National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq today, Chaudhry said. He said matters related to legislation would be discussed during the meeting in view of the prevailing circumstances.
