Says proposed emergency or governor’s rule stems from K-P’s worsening security situation
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Photo: File
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Thursday linked the proposed emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the province’s worsening security situation, saying it had nothing to do with the PTI’s planned long march.
Speaking to a private television programme, the minister attributed the worsening security situation to what he described as the provincial government’s lack of cooperation with the federal government in the fight against terrorism.
Talking about the government-PTI talks scheduled for Friday, Chaudhry said political issues would also be discussed during the talks, adding that if the party sought any favour or concession from the federal government, it would be considered within the constitutional and legal framework.
Read: President, PM form committee to initiate talks with PTI leadership
However, he said the issue of the provincial government’s non-cooperation in the fight against terrorism was equally important.
Chaudhry said it should be made clear that postponing the long march would not end the issue of a possible emergency in K-P.
“If it is being thought that if the talks result only in postponing the long march, the issue of emergency will be over, then this should be made clear: the long march has nothing to do with the imposition of emergency,” he said.
He said discussions on the imposition of an emergency had begun despite repeated efforts to explain to the provincial government that terrorism was increasing in the province.
According to the minister, the provincial government was not cooperating with the federal government and law enforcement agencies, resulting in an increase in casualties and making it difficult to establish full control over the situation.
Talking about the comparisons being drawn between terrorism in Balochistan and K-P, he expressed regret over the incident in Balochistan but said the provincial government there stood with the federal government in measures to stop terrorism and was on the front line in the fight against it.
“In K-P, the provincial government is standing like a wall in front of the law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and the federal government’s measures to crush terrorism. It does not cooperate, which is why terrorism cannot be brought under control there,” he said.
Also Read: Govt ‘seriously’ considering imposing emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Tariq Fazal
He also criticised the PTI’s governance in the province, saying poor governance had contributed to the growing nexus between terrorism, crime and smuggling, which was indirectly facilitating terrorists.
Chaudhry said the issue would also be discussed during talks with the PTI and that the party would have to provide the federal government with the cooperation required to bring terrorism under control in the province.
He said it was the PTI’s responsibility, politically and otherwise, to stand with the federal government in dealing with terrorism.
On the possibility of an emergency, Chaudhry said all ministers and government spokespersons had maintained that the matter was being seriously considered and that a final decision would be taken after consultations.
He said work had already been carried out on the issue, including an assessment of its pros and cons and the possible consequences of its implementation in K-P.
However, he said the PML-N and its main ally, the PPP, had maintained from the outset that if the grievances of both sides could be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, it had always been the position of the prime minister and every member of the cabinet to pursue that course.
The minister’s comments came after the government formed a committee to hold talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on the current political situation in the country.
The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a statement issued by the President House.
The decision was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at Aiwan-e-Sadr, according to a statement issued by the President House.
The meeting also expressed concern over the security situation in K-P and reviewed the country’s overall security situation.
