ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday said the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a constitutional decision taken under Articles 232 and 234, citing a sharp increase in terrorist incidents in the province.
Briefing foreign media representatives, the minister said no definitive timeframe could be given for the emergency and governor’s rule, adding that their duration could be extended if required.
He said the Constitution provided a framework for governance and procedures to deal with different situations. If the objective had been political, the emergency could have been imposed earlier, he added.
Tarar said the previous provincial government’s lack of cooperation and its role in counterterrorism efforts were matters of record. He described it as regrettable if political interests were prioritised over efforts to eliminate terrorism and coordinated action with federal institutions.
He said the Prime Minister had placed the matter before the federal cabinet, which reviewed the relevant aspects and unanimously decided to adopt constitutional measures to protect the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and strengthen the federation.
The minister said Pakistan had been facing terrorism for decades, with its effects continuing in the region since the Afghan war. He said the Pakistani nation had demonstrated courage and made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, and those efforts were continuing.
Referring to official figures shared with the federal government by various departments, Tarar said 2,911 terrorist incidents were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between 2021 and 2024, while subsequent figures had risen to approximately 8,600. He said the figures indicated an increase of around 200 per cent.
He said the Pakistan Army was performing its role in enforcing the law and maintaining internal security, while defending the country’s borders remained the armed forces’ primary responsibility. The military also provided assistance to provincial governments when required to address internal security challenges, he added.
Tarar praised the sacrifices of the armed forces and security institutions in the fight against terrorism, stressing that protecting the lives of innocent citizens was a fundamental responsibility of the state.
He said effective counterterrorism efforts required strong coordination among relevant institutions and a unified strategy. The powers of federal and provincial governments were defined by the Constitution, and both were required to operate within their respective constitutional and legal jurisdictions.