ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that the federal government had tried to bring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on board in the fight against terrorism, but the attempts got no response.
The Interior Minister made the remarks while addressing a press conference along with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry shortly after the Centre imposed emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the provincial government’s lack of efforts to combat terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal cabinet’s recommendations on Sunday to invoke Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, following an emergency federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Prime Minister’s Office said the cabinet had taken note of the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.
The decision marks a significant intervention by the federal government amid growing concerns about terrorism, deteriorating law and order and mounting tensions with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration over counterterrorism cooperation.
Repeated Contacts with PTI leaders yielded no response
Mohsin Naqvi recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wanted to hold talks with the National Assembly opposition leader last month and proposed forming a committee, but the government did not get any confirmation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says the government made month-long efforts to resolve matters through negotiations with the KP government and PTI. He says talks were held with PTI for two days, but despite three rounds of draft finalization, a new draft emerged. Naqvi stresses that the government’s primary concern is terrorism, adding that the law and order situation has deteriorated in 12 districts.
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— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) October 11, 2026
Naqvi said he had remained in direct contact with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government while discussions were also under way on the planned long march and other matters.
He said the government had made repeated attempts to reach an understanding with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, with the final contact taking place at 11.45pm the previous night.
“I told them that even at that point, something could still be done, but there was no response,” he said.
The interior minister denied that the government had asked PTI to call off its planned sit-in, saying its primary concern had been the deteriorating security situation.
“Our issue was only terrorism,” he said, adding that the government had remained in contact with PTI leaders and had initiated contact with the party on previous occasions.
Naqvi said the proposal to postpone the sit-in had come from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), not his ministry.
Deteriorating security situation in KP
He warned that the security situation in K-P had deteriorated considerably, with residents in some districts unable to venture outdoors after sunset.
Referring to the death of an Election Commission official the previous day, Naqvi cited the incident as another indication of the security challenges confronting the province.
He said he had held several meetings with K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, with counterterrorism efforts being the main subject of discussion.
According to Naqvi, he had asked Afridi about the provincial government’s plans to strengthen the police force in terrorism-affected districts. The chief minister, he said, had cited a shortage of funds, prompting him to offer federal assistance.
Naqvi further claimed that provincial representatives had agreed during negotiations that emergency measures should be introduced in certain districts.
He said the federal government had struggled to secure public support for its position, adding that provincial representatives had expressed reservations about photographs of their meetings being released publicly. He maintained that he had neither asked them to pose for photographs nor sought permission to make such images public.
The interior minister said the federal government could not continue to lose security personnel to terrorism while the provincial government failed to take ownership of the fight.
“Terrorism cannot be fought alone under any circumstances; it requires a collective effort,” he said.
Describing the imposition of emergency measures as a difficult decision, Naqvi said the government had acted only after repeated attempts to resolve the matter through negotiations.
He claimed that 518 police personnel had been killed in K-P over the preceding 18 months.
Naqvi said the situation might have been different had the provincial government agreed to the proposals put forward the previous night, adding that the federal government had ultimately been compelled to take the measures.
Constitutional measures for KP
Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that incidents of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have escalated to dangerous levels, with repercussions extending to other parts of the country.
Pakistan has been identified as one of the countries most affected by terrorism in the Global Terrorism Index, and the menace is adversely impacting the national economy and foreign investment.
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar says emergency and Governor’s Rule have been imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234. Addressing a news conference alongside the interior and information ministers, Tarar says the President acted on the Prime Minister’s advice amid escalating terrorism and a worsening security situation.
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The Law Minister explained that the provincial government has been suspended in accordance with constitutional procedures, and the federal government has entrusted responsibilities to the Governor under its constitutional authority. The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will now exercise provincial powers as mandated by the Constitution.
Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that, under this decision, the powers of the Chief Minister, provincial ministers, and special assistants have been suspended; other constitutional office-holders, including the Advocate General, have also been suspended.
He stated that capable individuals have been selected to manage the province’s affairs during the interim period, and an 11-member advisory council has been proposed to oversee matters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This advisory council has been established to handle reconstruction and development affairs as well. New Administrative Structure for 12 Affected Districts
According to the Law Minister, a special secretariat has been established for the 12 affected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which will operate under the Governor and the Chief Secretary.
This special secretariat will monitor the situation in the 12 affected districts, and the federal government will be kept constantly informed.
He further stated that an officer of the Additional Chief Secretary rank would be appointed to oversee the administrative affairs of the 12 affected districts, and all administrative matters would be conducted under a new procedure. The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will oversee this new administrative system.
Information Minister accuses PTI government of failing to curb terrorism
Information Minister Atta Tarar noted that the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has two aspects: security and legal. A detailed consultation regarding the situation in the province and the issue of terrorism took place during a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enabled terrorist elements to expand their influence, leading to a constitutional breakdown. Addressing a news conference alongside the interior and law ministers, he says a technocrat Advisory Council will assist the Governor in restoring security and improving governance.
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Atta Tarar stated that while all political parties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced terrorist attacks, there exists an unholy alliance between the PTI and terrorists. According to him, terrorists are being provided with access to security and financial resources.
He said that protecting the lives and property of the public is the constitutional responsibility of the provincial government; however, empowering terrorists and failing to protect the public are two separate issues.
ALSO READ: Emergency, Governor’s Rule Were Necessary to Restore Peace, Strengthen State’s Writ in KP
Terrorists have been involved in attacks on mosques, hospitals, and security personnel; therefore, it is essential to review the matter regarding the failure of the constitutional system in the province, he said.
He stated that the provincial government has made terrorists stakeholders in administrative affairs and has effectively “outsourced” several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to them.
Those responsible for maintaining law and order in the province have facilitated terrorists, while the terrorists themselves seek to push the country to the brink of ruin through foreign funding.
Atta Tarar stated that the martyrs who fought against terrorism—and their families—are the true heroes, and the nation deeply values their sacrifices.
