Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secretary General Nayyar Bukhari has said his party will provide constitutional input if the federal government consults it over the possible imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking on Wednesday, Bukhari said governor’s rule could be imposed on the recommendation of the provincial governor if the provincial government failed to perform its constitutional responsibilities.
His remarks come as tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government have intensified over security conditions in the province and PTI’s planned October 4 march towards Islamabad. Federal officials have recently discussed governor’s rule and other constitutional options.
PPP raises concerns over law and order
Bukhari described the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as extremely serious, saying residents in parts of the province were reluctant to leave their homes in the evening because of security concerns.
He also questioned the absence of PTI leaders from the funerals of people killed in terrorist attacks and asked why the party leadership did not attend the funerals of those he described as martyrs.
Bukhari further alleged that the PTI government was prioritising the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan rather than addressing public issues.
He said peaceful protest was a constitutional right, but argued that violence or attacks against the state could not be accepted.
Federal government weighs governor’s rule
The possibility of governor’s rule has become a major point of contention between Islamabad and the PTI-led provincial government.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said earlier this week that consultations were underway regarding the constitutional and legal option of imposing governor’s rule. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has also warned the provincial government against allowing the situation to deteriorate to the point where such a step becomes necessary.
Backchannel talks fail to resolve PTI-government deadlock over Islamabad march
The federal government has cited the province’s security situation and political developments in discussing possible constitutional measures.
The PTI-led provincial government, however, has rejected the federal government’s criticism. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has maintained that the October 4 march will go ahead and has called for changes to the federal security policy, arguing that the province’s government and other local stakeholders should be involved in formulating counterterrorism policy.
Bukhari calls for dialogue
Bukhari said political disputes should be resolved through negotiations, pointing to the PPP’s history of holding talks with political opponents.
He maintained that PTI could seek relief through the courts and alleged that divisions within the party had resulted in different factions taking different positions.
The PPP leader urged the federal government to enforce the law while preventing violent incidents and maintaining public order.
Meanwhile, Bukhari said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had been invited to an All Parties Conference convened by the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP).
He said the PPP’s Central Executive Committee would decide whether the party would participate in the conference.
