Sanaullah links reversal of K-P governor's rule to PTI support for counterterrorism efforts

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday hinted that the federal government could consider foregoing interim governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) agreed to support law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism.

A day earlier, a joint session of parliament adopted two separate resolutions ratifying the presidential proclamations imposing a state of emergency and governor’s rule in K-P for two months, amid protests from the opposition. Before that, both houses of parliament had separately approved the emergency in the province by majority vote under Clause 1 of Article 232 of the Constitution, despite objections from opposition lawmakers.

The emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations between the government and opposition failed, culminating in a PTI long march towards Islamabad that began on October 4.

Speaking to a private news channel, Sanaullah said the government wanted all political parties to reach a consensus on counterterrorism, arguing that growing security challenges required a unified response from the federal and provincial governments.

He said the government’s primary demand from the opposition was that it stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies and armed forces. The fight against terrorism had cost the country precious lives, including those of military personnel, he added.

Sanaullah maintained that political differences should not undermine ongoing counterterrorism efforts, stressing that the strategy adopted to combat terrorism should not be questioned or made conditional on political demands.

Read More: Opp fails to thwart govt move in K-P

The remarks came amid renewed political engagement following meetings involving Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Responding to questions about why the government was pursuing negotiations despite parliament’s ratification of the emergency measures and governor’s rule, Sanaullah said the administration continued to seek consensus among political parties on matters of national security.

He argued that the evolving security situation demanded cooperation rather than confrontation, adding that the federal and provincial governments needed to adopt a common strategy to counter the threat. “Everyone should stand with Pakistan, its law enforcement agencies, and its armed forces,” he added.

He stressed that the war on terrorism had cost precious lives among law enforcement personnel, including military servicemen, and said it was therefore essential to support them and recognise their courage. “Together we need to win this war [against terrorism],” he said.

India-Israel nexus

Sanaullah attributed the latest wave of terrorism to India’s defeat in Marka-e-Haq, referring to the May 2025 Pakistan-India conflict. He said that India had subsequently launched a covert campaign against Pakistan under what he called “Operation Sindoor 2”.

“They are trying to avenge their defeat in the war,” he said, stating that India was using the Afghan Taliban as proxies in its conflict with Pakistan. “They have housed terrorists in training camps and funded them,” the prime minister’s adviser said.

Sanaullah further alleged that Israel was providing technical training to terrorists in Afghanistan, enabling them to operate drones. “In view of all these precarious circumstances, there is a strong requirement that the central and the provincial governments adopt a unified approach to eliminate the threat,” he said.

He reiterated that the government wanted a collective response to what it described as a challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty, warning that counterterrorism efforts could not succeed without coordination between the federal and provincial governments.

Political differences and negotiations

Addressing contentious issues between the government and opposition, Sanaullah said previous rounds of negotiations had either produced agreements on specific matters or referred unresolved issues to a special committee comprising representatives from both sides.

He said these mechanisms were intended to facilitate dialogue and identify a way forward on outstanding matters.

The prime minister’s adviser also criticised the PTI’s response to legal proceedings against its leaders, arguing that allegations of political victimisation should be addressed through the judicial process.

Also read: Pakistan, others walk out as Israeli president speaks at CICA summit in Azerbaijan

He said cases could be resolved only in accordance with the law and that courts, rather than political parties, were responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of those accused.

Sanaullah contrasted the current government’s engagement with the opposition with the tenure of former prime minister Imran Khan, claiming that the PTI founder had not contacted the then opposition leader during his four years in power.

He said Shehbaz, by comparison, regularly met the opposition leader in parliament and invited him to discuss issues of national importance. He added that Achakzai had declined repeated verbal and written invitations to meet the prime minister.

PTI arrests and law and order

Commenting on the detention of PTI leaders, including Imran Khan’s sisters, Sanaullah alleged that those detained had been involved in planning or supporting unrest. He cited calls for attacks on the governor’s house and rioting in Islamabad as grounds for the authorities’ actions.

He also accused the PTI’s social media team of operating like a “mafia”, saying that it used artificial intelligence and manipulated images to advance the party’s political agenda. “Therefore, actions taken against them are a necessity bound by concerns regarding law and order,” he said.

According to Sanaullah, those detained could be released if the PTI demonstrated that it would not engage in activities intended to provoke unrest in the future.

Read More: PTI disowns Imran's X account in IHC

The adviser maintained that the government remained open to political engagement but insisted that cooperation on national security, particularly the fight against terrorism, was essential.

Sanaullah said the federal government’s position on K-P and other outstanding political matters should be viewed in the context of the broader security challenges facing the country.

He concluded that the threat posed by foreign-backed terrorist networks required a coordinated national response, with political parties, law enforcement agencies and the armed forces working towards the common objective of eliminating terrorism.