ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review security conditions across Pakistan, with officials discussing constitutional options for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the possibility of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The meeting at the Prime Minister’s House was attended by federal ministers and senior officials. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed participants on the country’s law-and-order situation, while the meeting also reviewed the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI’s planned Oct. 4 march toward Islamabad and ongoing political contacts between the government and the opposition.
Officials examined the potential application of Articles 233 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution, which provide for extraordinary constitutional measures under specified circumstances. The discussions remained at the level of reviewing options, rather than confirming that either measure had been imposed. Recent reporting has likewise found no formal presidential proclamation confirming governor’s rule in the province.
Federal ministers have argued that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is pursuing political objectives while failing to provide adequate support to state institutions confronting the threat from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, according to the reports.
The provincial government has rejected those allegations, while the Chief Minister’s House has maintained that the federal government’s actions would not prevent the planned long march.
The discussions come amid growing concern within PTI itself over the planned demonstration. PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai recently urged the party leadership to postpone the Oct. 4 march, citing security risks and the possibility that the confrontation could create conditions for emergency measures.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has also said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot afford a long march amid continuing security challenges, warning that governor’s rule could be considered under extraordinary circumstances if law and order deteriorates further
