PTI govt faces ouster as Centre weighs K-P options

The federal cabinet is expected to consider imposing an emergency and governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) at a crucial meeting on Sunday (today), as the federal government weighs constitutional measures amid the PTI-led provincial government's ongoing protest march and worsening political and security tensions.

Sources said the cabinet, which will meet at 9:30am under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is expected to consider both options and approve advice to be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari. They said significant administrative changes, including appointing a new chief secretary, could accompany any decision.

The developments follow a meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday, during which they reviewed the country's overall political and security situation, with particular attention to K-P, where the PTI launched its long march on October 4.

According to sources, the president and prime minister reached an understanding on the possibility of imposing governor's rule or an emergency in the province. However, the final decision rests with the federal cabinet, and no formal announcement had been made at the time of reporting.

The Presidency's media wing said the meeting discussed the overall political and security situation and that separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate had been agreed upon for Oct 13.

The prime minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister Ahad Cheema and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan. Senator Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim Hussain assisted the president.

Emergency plan

According to sources, K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had sent the prime minister a written explanation of the grounds for emergency measures about a week earlier, as part of the legal requirements for the proposed intervention.

The reported advice argues that the province's law and order situation has deteriorated to the point where imposing an emergency has become necessary. Following cabinet approval, the prime minister is expected to send the advice to the president. The emergency would take effect after presidential approval, according to the sources.

The cabinet division is expected to place the relevant summary before the cabinet on Sunday, potentially through circulation. Sources said a notification detailing the imposition of governor's rule and emergency would be issued following the required approvals.

The proposals reportedly include administrative changes across the province, particularly replacing the incumbent chief secretary with a new, stronger administrator to oversee provincial affairs. Other senior officials could also be transferred.

Sources have separately indicated that the federal government is considering imposing an emergency in 12 districts, including eight merged tribal districts—Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan—as well as Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki Marwat. Another proposal under consideration would transfer certain important provincial powers to the federal government.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking informally to journalists, suggested that the government believed its options for resolving the standoff had narrowed considerably.

"What scope remains for not imposing an emergency?" he asked, urging journalists to consider how the situation could be resolved.

Naqvi said the government had made extensive efforts to find a solution and those involved could themselves explain the extent of those efforts. "We have no room left now," he said.

Maulana Fazl

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz contacted JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the political situation and other important matters. The PM congratulated Fazl on performing Umrah and invited him to the Prime Minister's House for a meeting, an invitation the JUI-F chief accepted.

Sources said Fazl favoured allowing more time for political negotiations and that the PTI had remained in contact with him. Consultations were expected to focus on the situation in K-P and possible ways to reduce tensions.