Govt weighs emergency, other options as KP security concerns mount
The federal government has intensified high-level political and legal consultations in Islamabad over the security situation and constitutional matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the wake of the long march announced by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday held consultations with his key ministers and advisers to review the KP situation and finalise decisions to prevent the situation from escalating.
The meeting at the Prime Minister’s House was attended by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Mohsin Naqvi, Amir Muqam and Attaullah Tarar, as well as Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah.
The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on the overall situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the meeting on various constitutional and legal options to control the situation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the participants on the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the situation along the Afghan border, incidents of terrorism and the government’s strategy to deal with the PTI’s planned long march on October 4.
Federal Minister Amir Muqam and Adviser Rana Sanaullah briefed the meeting on the political situation and backchannel contacts with the PTI leadership.
Sources said that Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed concern over the security situation in the province and decided that all allied parties and relevant political stakeholders would be taken into confidence before any final or major decision concerning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The sources said some important decisions were expected following the meeting.
The prime minister is also likely to meet President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday, while a formal meeting of the federal cabinet is expected to be convened before any final action is taken.
On Wednesday, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the federal government was considering imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the primary reason for such a move would be security concerns rather than any political activity or the PTI’s planned long march.