ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday to discuss the country’s overall security and political situation amid growing tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the Centre considers imposing an emergency in the province.
According to a statement issued by the President House, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar accompanied the prime minister.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar also attended the meeting.
The statement said it was agreed that separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate would be convened on Tuesday, October 13.
The meeting comes amid escalating differences between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government and the PTI administration in KP, particularly over counterterrorism policy and the province’s approach to dealing with security threats.
These differences were among the principal reasons behind the failure of government-opposition negotiations on October 3.
The PTI has alleged that it is being excluded from key security-related decisions concerning KP, a charge denied by the federal government. The party has also called for a review of the counterterrorism strategy, while federal ministers have criticised the provincial government’s performance against terrorism and its position on dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.
In recent days, federal ministers have criticised the PTI for proceeding with its protest long march towards Islamabad despite security challenges in KP. They have also linked the ongoing dispute over counterterrorism policy to the possibility of imposing an emergency or governor’s rule in the province.
Federal government accuses KP administration of poor governance
Earlier on Saturday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the KP government of failing to improve governance and adequately strengthen its counterterrorism infrastructure.
Tarar claimed that the provincial government had received Rs700 billion under the National Finance Commission framework for development projects but had failed to upgrade the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), establish forensic laboratories or install Safe City surveillance cameras.
He said such cameras should be installed in the merged tribal districts and at entry and exit points across the province. The minister alleged that the PTI was instead using resources to organise political protests.
Emergency described as a last resort
Speaking to Geo News, Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudhry said consultations were under way regarding the possibility of imposing an emergency in KP.
He stressed that the federal government did not favour such a step, describing it as a last resort for a democratic administration.
Chaudhry said several options had been examined at different levels, including negotiations and backchannel contacts, but questioned what alternatives remained if the PTI continued to refuse cooperation on counterterrorism matters.
He accused the opposition party of mobilising people for protests and opposing the national security policy at a time when the province was confronting serious security challenges.
“Consultations are ongoing, and this is a last resort,” he said, adding that the government would carefully consider the move if no other option remained.
The minister maintained that political engagement with the PTI continued because it was the parliamentary opposition and governed KP.
Recalling the second round of negotiations, Chaudhry said the interior minister had informed the prime minister that the KP government was willing to cooperate in counterterrorism efforts.
According to Chaudhry, the prime minister had offered to provide the province with whatever support it required, urging the PTI administration to work alongside the federal government and security forces.
He said the federal government was prioritising national security and peace over political considerations, adding that it was willing to set aside political differences for the country’s stability.
“We are ready to give everything and we have no ego. Whether we are in the government or opposition, our ego is Pakistan and it is not bigger than Pakistan,” he said.
Chaudhry expressed concern over the sacrifices being made by security personnel and questioned how long the prime minister and army chief could continue bearing the burden of the country’s losses without collective political support.
Fazlur Rehman meets PM to reduce political tensions
Separately, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as efforts continued to ease tensions between the federal government and the KP administration and revive dialogue between the government and opposition.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders held consultations on important national and political matters.
The meeting followed a telephone conversation during which the prime minister congratulated Fazlur Rehman on performing Umrah and invited him to the Prime Minister House for discussions. They also discussed ways to reduce tensions between the Centre and the KP government.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said Fazlur Rehman had taken the PTI leadership into confidence before proceeding to meet the prime minister.
The JUI-F chief has recently stepped up contacts with both the government and opposition in an effort to facilitate the resumption of political dialogue.
Earlier in the week, leaders of the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP) met Fazlur Rehman at his residence. Following that meeting, he urged the federal government not to obstruct the PTI’s long march, maintaining that peaceful protest was a democratic right.
Subsequently, Rana Sanaullah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also met the JUI-F chief.
PTI MNA Junaid Akbar later confirmed that Fazlur Rehman had offered to help resolve the deadlock between the government and opposition, adding that the PTI was open to the initiative.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also expressed hope that ongoing efforts to restart negotiations would produce a positive outcome, although he acknowledged having limited expectations.
Ghauri clarified that Fazlur Rehman was acting as a facilitator rather than a mediator. He explained that a mediator would require a mandate from the opposing parties to make decisions based on their demands, whereas the JUI-F chief was primarily seeking to bring both sides back to the negotiating table.
He said the party had urged the federal government to convene an all-parties conference at Parliament House to discuss political and security challenges.
According to Ghauri, renewed dialogue would benefit both sides, although the PTI could gain the most from an agreement, given the continuing political uncertainty surrounding the administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.