Sanaullah links K-P governor’s rule to counterterrorism cooperation, not long march

Linking the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency in K-P to the PTI leadership and provincial government’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, he said the matter could be resolved if PTI leaders and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi declared their support for the federal government and law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.

Read:CM Afridi says PTI to unveil ‘final plan’ in Swabi as long march enters 6th day, heads to Charsadda. He stressed that the proposed imposition of governor’s rule had nothing to do with the long march.

“If they do not make this commitment, then whether they hold the long march all the way to Islamabad or keep it short of Islamabad will make no difference,” he said. The PML-N leader said that, over the past three or four days, the K-P chief minister had stated that no military operation would be allowed in the province.

Sanaullah said there would be no need to displace people or evacuate valleys, as the proposed measures would involve intelligence-based operations. “Imposing an emergency certainly does not mean that those districts will be evacuated and people turned into internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Rather, intelligence-based operations will be conducted within the territorial jurisdiction,” he said. During the same program, K-P Law Minister Aftab Alam expressed surprise at what he described as ambiguity in statements by federal ministers on the proposed measures.

“One minister says that if the long march is not called off, an emergency will be imposed, while another says that the government wants to impose an emergency or governor’s rule because the provincial government is not cooperating with the federation on terrorism-related matters,” he said.

Alam said he believed a narrative was being built against the K-P government as part of what he called a “nefarious conspiracy”. “God forbid, it is being suggested that we are somehow on the side of someone else in these matters.

However, our stance is clear: this war is ours even before it is the federation’s,” he said. Also Read:Govt trying to avoid ‘last option’ but may consider governor’s rule in K-P if no alternative remains: Khawaja Asif.

He maintained that the PTI and the K-P government stood with law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, adding that the provincial government had strengthened the police. “Our mission is very clear, and it is being deliberately made controversial,” he said.

The issue of Governor’s Rule has become a major point of contention between the federal and K-P government. On September 21, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including.

Governor’s Rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march. Two days later, however, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out any plan to impose Governor’s Rule, saying the federal government hadno intentionof removing the PTI administration.

Some federal ministers publiclyraisedthe possibility of federal intervention in K-P. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said consultations were under way on the "constitutional and legal option" of imposing Governors' Rule. Afridi, however, rejectedthe warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of Governors' Rule or an emergency.

He also said PTI supporters could take to the streets at short notice if an attempt was made to remove him.

However, amid the speculation, just days before the PTI’s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee last week to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, while expressing concern over the province’s deteriorating law and order situation.

The government and opposition parties held negotiations over two days, and the talks initially appeared to be bearing fruit. However, just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of thecontentious issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt.

The governmentblamed the K-P government, particularly Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations. The PTI, however, claimed that the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party’s founder, which the government refused to accept.

Read More:Bilawal urges PTI to return to political engagement, says governor's rule in K-P would be 'atomic bomb'As the negotiation process collapsed, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing totrade allegations.

As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray andextended an olive branchto the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins. The PTI, however, rejected the offeras its march continued towards Islamabad, entering its sixth day on Friday.

The convoy moved towards Charsadda, with CM Afridi leading the procession.