ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday took the allies of the ruling PML-N into confidence on the imposition of governor\u2019s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the Centre made every effort to avoid this \u201cextreme step\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Centre on Sunday imposed governor\u2019s rule in KP and emergency in 12 of its districts, citing the provincial government\u2019s \u201cdeliberate disengagement\u201d from the fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz held a meeting with leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), as well as a separate huddle with a parliamentary delegation comprising representatives of PML-Q, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and PML-Zia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the meeting with the MQM-P delegation led by Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the two sides exchanged views on the country\u2019s overall and political situation, the PM Office (PMO) said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister said the government had to take this \u201cmost difficult decision\u201d in the interest of the people of KP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe made every effort to avoid taking this extreme step in any way. We engaged in negotiations with an open heart, but did not receive a positive response from the other side,\u201d he was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier noted that rising terrorist attacks in KP were targeting ordinary citizens and security forces, while the provincial government \u201cfailed to openly raise its voice against terrorist groups\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz also termed the PTI\u2019s long march a \u201cconspiracy to destroy the country\u2019s improving economy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to PMO, the MQM-P delegation assured the prime minister of its full support for the government\u2019s decisions regarding KP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the MQM\u2019s side, the delegation included Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Senator Khalida Ateeb, MNA Farooq Sattar, Syed Waseem Hussain, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, Javed Hanif Khan, Muhammad Moeen Aamir Pirzada, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Hassan Sabir, Sadiq Iftikhar, Arshad Abdullah Vohra, Syed Hafizuddin, Syed Aminul Haque, Khawaja Azharul Hassan, Ahmad Saleem Siddiqui, Farhan Chishti, Nighat Shakeel Khan, Sabheen Ghoury, Rana Ansar, Sofia Saeed Shah, and Sanjay Perwani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the second meeting with other parties, PM Shehbaz explained the reasons behind the federal government\u2019s decision to take constitutional measures, state-run APP reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the conduct of the PTI-led KP government in the province and its failure to adopt an unequivocal stance against terrorism had posed risks to Pakistan\u2019s growing economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier highlighted that the federal government had provided more than Rs800 billion to KP under the National Finance Commission (NFC) arrangements to support efforts against terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he said, the provincial government had failed to take effective measures to strengthen the capacity of its Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and establish Safe City projects to improve its counterterrorism capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the PM\u2019s Office, the parliamentary delegation expressed its support for the federal government amid the prevailing situation and appreciated the prime minister\u2019s leadership during what it described as difficult circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The delegation also said the people of KP had remained deprived of adequate development in health, education and infrastructure during the PTI\u2019s tenure in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It expressed confidence that, with the federal government\u2019s cooperation, development and prosperity in KP would advance in line with other parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The delegation included BAP President and Science and Technology Minister Khalid Magsi; former Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani of BAP, senators Manzoor Kakar, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Dinesh Kumar and Samina Mumtaz Zehri; PML-Q President and Human Resource Development Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain; and representatives of the IPP and PML-Zia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the government, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and PM\u2019s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah attended both meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018What other path did we have?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, he addressed a parliamentary meeting of his PML-N and said, \u201cWhen terrorism is spreading, sacrifices are being made day and night, and this party (PTI) is exhausting all its resources and time round the clock to create instability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The premier emphasised that the people of KP had been wanting \u201cprojects of development and prosperity for the past 13 years\u201d, such as schools, universities, hospitals, better law and order, and an end to corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he contended, there was \u201cnot zero, but negative attention\u201d towards these matters, and \u201call attention and resources\u201d were instead diverted towards long marches and protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan any respectable society tolerate this? Even the question does not arise. So what other path did we have?\u201d he asked, quipping if the Centre should have remained as \u201csilent spectators\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister noted that the Centre was \u201ccompelled to make this decision\u201d after the Oct 3 talks between the government and the opposition collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elaborating on the dialogue process, PM Shehbaz said, \u201cThere was a moment when it was set in stone that an agreement was about to be reached, all demands were settled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that a consensus-based draft was ready, but the PTI team sought some more time to consult Sohail Afridi \u2014 the KP chief minister whose role now stands non-functional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe rest is history. [\u2026] They were ordered that you have to create another May 9, even go beyond it and wreak havoc; you must not accept anything,\u201d the premier added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went on to recall his engagement with Jamiat Ulemai-i-Islam\u2013Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to reduce tensions, which was followed by the Oct 11 cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter all consultations and arguments, it was decided that this is the moment to save Pakistan. We must not wait any further, else everything will be set on fire and we will be left with regret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz reiterated, \u201cWe were compelled to make the decision of imposing emergency. This is no other choice because Pakistan is first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He expressed his hope that the newly appointed KP Advisory Council, which will work under the governor, would work to improve the living conditions and safety in the province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister asserted that terrorism had been eradicated in most parts of the country several years ago, but had resurged recently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He lamented that law enforcers were being martyred daily in KP and Balochistan. \u201cIf this bloodshed is not brought to an end like it was in 2018, then the journey of development made in the past 2.5 years\u2026 this journey is continuing gradually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf one provincial government is not only determined to end that journey [\u2026] but that party is determined on destruction and comes to thinking that if they make progress, what will be our value; how regrettable it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prime minister recalled the November 2024 protest by the PTI in Islamabad, as well as its 2014 rallies at the federal capital\u2019s D-Chowk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen someone is bent on ending the country\u2019s progress, they are engaged in sit-ins, verbal abuse and allegations, instead of standing with the Centre and the armed forces and empowering the police and CTD,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PM Shehbaz said even an enemy would not make the remarks made by Afridi in recent weeks. He criticised the PTI leader for not expressing sympathies with the martyrs\u2019 families and for \u201cnot willing to say a single word\u201d against terrorists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the outset of his address, the premier highlighted his government\u2019s efforts to cooperate with the PTI-led governments in KP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recalled his meeting with former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saying, \u201cWe told him in every way that we will cooperate with them \u2026 combatting terrorism is our shared responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted that he had also met with Sohail Afridi \u2014 whose role as the KP CM is currently non-functional due to governor\u2019s rule \u2014 and asserted that the Centre tried its best to work with the KP government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At one point, the premier said International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva recently told him, \u201cThis is a new Pakistan\u201d, as she praised the country\u2019s economic reforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He recalled his meetings last month with international financial institutions and stressed that praise from such independent firms for Pakistan \u201crestored\u201d his faith in the country\u2019s progress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday took the allies of the ruling PML-N into confidence on the imposition of governor\u2019s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the Centre made every effort to avoid this \u201cextreme step\u201d. The Centre on Sunday imposed governor\u2019s rule in KP and emergency in 12 of its districts, citing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":134789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n