Governor’s rule in KP would be last option, Pakistan defence minister says

Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be the government’s last option as tensions between the provincial and federal governments continued over a planned march on Islamabad.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, the Defence Minister said the government was considering all constitutional and legal options, including governor’s rule, but was making efforts to avoid it.

“The final decision regarding governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be taken by looking at the situation and available options,” he said.

Khawaja Asif said that if no other option remained, Islamabad could not be left “at the mercy of anyone” and the government had the right to defend the capital if it came under attack.

He said attacks on the capital could not be allowed every two or three months.

He also said political alliances and cooperation with forces involved in the deaths of thousands of Pakistanis were unacceptable.

He claimed there was evidence of links between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the Taliban, and accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government of showing “criminal indifference” to terrorism.

“The PML-N has not become an ally of the Taliban,” he said.

Asif said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was in the grip of terrorism while the chief minister and cabinet were engaged in a political long march.

“The time has come to take important decisions. The entire province cannot be held hostage and the unity of the country cannot be jeopardised,” he said.

He added that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be left at the mercy of “incompetent and insensitive rulers”.