Govt imposes emergency in KP as Tarar alleges a PTI-terror n

Pakistan's federal government imposes an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleges a PTI-terror nexus. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi cites failed talks and security concerns as the Centre establishes an Area Development Secretariat to oversee 12 districts. Info minister alleges PTI-led KP government of 'hand in glove' with terrorists, citing intelligence and law-enforcement reports Naqvi says Centre exhausted efforts to secure provincial cooperation, insisting emergency was driven by security concerns, not politics Federal govt establishes Area Development Secretariat to oversee administration, law enforcement and development in 12 terrorism-hit districts 11-member KP Advisory Council formed, with advisers appointed for key portfolios as Centre pledges to restore law and order ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of having a 'nexus' with terrorist groups, as the federal government defended its decision to impose an emergency in the province, citing the deteriorating security situation and alleged provincial government inaction against militancy. The allegations came at a joint press conference by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry shortly after the Centre imposed an emergency in KP, citing the provincial government's alleged failure to take effective measures against terrorism. لاء انفورسمنٹ ایجنسیز کی رپورٹ کے مطابق خیبرپختونخوا میں صورتحال خوفناک ہے، دہشت گردوں کو اختیار حاصل ہے کہ کون سا ضلع کیسے چلے گا۔ تمام سیاسی جماعتوں پر دہشت گرد حملے ہوئے، سوائے پی ٹی آئی کے جسے محفوظ رسائی اور راستہ دیا جاتا ہے۔ ~ وفاقی وزیرِ اطلاعات و نشریات عطاءاللّٰہ تارڑ https://t.co/nY5a19VDrH — Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) October 11, 2026 The federal government and the PTI, which was in power in KP, had remained at odds over several issues, particularly the counterterrorism policy, which was among the principal reasons behind the breakdown of their October 3 talks. Addressing the media in Islamabad, the information minister said all cabinet members who attended Sunday's meeting believed that the PTI-led provincial government had developed an understanding with terrorist groups. 'All cabinet members were of the view that the PTI government in KP is hand in glove with terrorists and has an unholy alliance with terrorists,' he alleged. Citing reports from the Intelligence Bureau and law enforcement agencies (LEAs), Tarar claimed that militants exercised influence over the administration of several districts. 'Terrorists have a clear say in how each district will be run,' he alleged. جن کی امن و امان کی ذمہ داری تھی انہوں نے صرف سہولت کاری کی اور دہشت گردوں کو اپنی انتظامیہ میں شراکت دار بنالیا۔ کئی اضلاع دہشت گردوں کو آؤٹ سورس کردیے۔ جس کے ناقابل تردید شواہد اور ثبوت موجود ہیں۔ ~ وفاقی وزیرِ اطلاعات و نشریات عطاءاللّٰہ تارڑ https://t.co/VGyQNLPuLy — Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) October 11, 2026 He argued that while political parties other than the PTI had faced terrorist attacks in the region, the PTI enjoyed what he described as 'secure access and passage' because of its alleged alliance with such groups. 'What is the reason that even police stations of some districts have been sublet to the Taliban?' Tarar asked, arguing that the issue went beyond administrative inaction or incompetence and involved the alleged 'empowering' of terrorists. The minister further alleged that a power-sharing arrangement between terrorist groups and the PTI-led KP government was gradually taking shape, beginning in the southern districts and extending into other parts of the province. He said the alleged 'unholy alliance and the nexus between them', under which several districts had effectively been outsourced to terrorists, had contributed to the martyrdom of people and attacks on civilian infrastructure. 'I say this publicly that these [Taliban] are foreign-funded people who want to bring our country to destruction,' he said, describing what he alleged was the provincial government's facilitation of such elements as a 'constitutional breakdown'. Tarar also referred to a recent bill concerning police appointments, alleging that the KP government intended to 'hire individuals from terrorist groups in the police'. 'They were gradually dragging the entire province towards destruction, irrefutable proof and evidence of which is available,' he claimed. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned groups gathered in parts of KP — apparently referring to PTI supporters participating in the party's long march — to disperse, saying they did not have any 'provincial protection'. 'Whoever is caught, complete legal action will be taken and that person themselves will be responsible for it. We will deal with them strictly, so it is my request that please disperse,' he said. Responding to a question, Naqvi said the federal government intended to restore law and order in the province and would take whatever measures were necessary to normalise the situation. 'We have to restore law and order in KP, and we will take whatever action is needed for that, and we will normalise the situation as soon as we can,' he said. Asked about reports of arrests of KP ministers, Naqvi said preventive detention could be used where necessary to maintain law and order, while individuals wanted by the authorities would be arrested. Responding to a question about militancy in Balochistan, the interior minister said counterterrorism operations conducted there in recent months had brought about a 'difference' in the security situation. Explaining the emergency measures in KP, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the federal government had established an Area Development Secretariat (ADS), overseen by the governor, to directly administer 12 districts that were 'nearly in a war situation'. He said Parliament assumed the legislative powers of the provincial assembly while the latter remained non-functional. KP Advisory Council formed The information minister also questioned the performance of the PTI-led provincial cabinet, welcomed what he described as the province's 'riddance from this group' and outlined the composition and responsibilities of the newly established technocratic KP Advisory Council. گورنر کے تحت تعلیم یافتہ، خودمختار اور بااختیار ایڈوائزری کونسل بنائی گئی ہے۔ ان میں ثمر ہارون بلور کا تعلق اس عظیم خاندان سے ہے جنہوں نے پاکستان کیلئے بے مثال قربانیاں دیں۔ ان کے خاوند، سسر اور خاندان کے دیگر افراد شہید ہوئے۔ یہ خاندان خیبر پختونخوا کی بہادری اور حب الوطنی کی زندہ تاریخ ہے۔ ~ وفاقی وزیرِ اطلاعات و نشریات عطاءاللّٰہ تارڑ — Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) October 11, 2026 The 11-member council has been constituted by the federal government as part of the emergency measures under Article 232 of the Constitution, according to an order seen by Dawn. It will assist the governor in exercising the functions of the KP government on behalf of the federal government. The Centre also appointed Advocate Sanaullah as the province's advocate general through the order. Former prisons chief Kifayatullah Khan, whom Tarar described as 'very competent', will oversee home affairs. Tariq Mahmood Pasha, a former chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and an aide to then-finance minister Ishaq Dar, has been appointed adviser for finance affairs. MNA Samar Haroon Bilour has been appointed information adviser, while retired Lt Gen Nigar Johar has been assigned responsibility for health affairs. Former advocate general Amir Javed has been given the law portfolio, while former senator Osman Saifullah Khan will advise the governor on energy and power. Asif Rafiq Afridi has been assigned communication and works, while Maulana Tayyab Qureshi will oversee religious affairs. Tarar said the selected advisers either held doctorate degrees or had extensive experience in public service. The other appointments include Dr Muhammad Irshad, a former FBR chief with a PhD in finance, as adviser for industries and commerce; Dr Sarfraz Ali Shah, who holds a PhD in economics, as adviser for mines and minerals; and Dr Syed Amir Abdullah, who holds a PhD in international relations, as adviser for education. The Cabinet Division's order stated that, following the proclamation of an emergency, the KP government 'cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution'. Exercising its powers under Article 232, the federal government ordered the immediate establishment of an Area Development Secretariat under the superintendence of an Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC). The arrangement is intended to 'restore law and order, safeguard the security of the citizens of Pakistan and ensure good governance and development' in 12 designated districts: Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, South Waziristan (Upper) and South Waziristan (Lower). According to the order, the ARDC will be a representative council comprising notables from the designated districts and will be headed by a chairman. Its members, chairman, vice chairman and spokesperson will be appointed in a manner and for a duration determined by the authorities. The ADS will be headed by the additional chief secretary of the designated districts, who will serve as their administrator. 'Officials of the provincial government and of other bodies or authorities posted in the designated districts shall be placed under the operational and administrative control of ADS. Any further postings/transfers to the designated districts may be ordered by the prime minister on the recommendation of the administrator, from time to time,' the order stated. It further stipulated that the administrator would perform all functions and exercise all executive, administrative and law-enforcement powers vested in or exercisable by the provincial government in the designated districts. Under the order, the administrator may establish organisational structures for governance, security and development in selected districts, with authority over district administrations, law-enforcement agencies and all line departments. The administrator may also issue binding orders to civil, police and military authorities; direct the operational, organisational and administrative functions of the ADS; order the allocation and transfer of funds; and coordinate with federal agencies, the armed forces and provincial bodies on law enforcement and security. Other powers include reorganising departments and taking necessary measures to ensure public safety, economic stability, relief operations and the provision of essential services, as well as taking any further steps considered necessary for effective governance, maintenance of law and order and service delivery. 'All orders, notifications, directions, or actions taken by the administrator shall have the same legal effect as if issued by the provincial government,' the order stated. It further provided that Chapter 3, concerning provincial governments under Part IV of the Constitution, and Clause 3 of Article 175, which relates to the separation of the judiciary from the executive, would not apply to the designated districts. The KP Government Rules of Business, 1985, would also not apply. Naqvi details govt efforts to resolve differences In his remarks, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the Centre had repeatedly tried to bring the KP government on board in the fight against terrorism but had failed to secure the required response. Opening Sunday's briefing, Naqvi described the decision as a difficult one, saying the federal government had spent more than a month attempting to secure the provincial government's cooperation. 'Today was not an easy day for us. For over one month, we continuously tried to take the KP government on board. I was personally in touch with them in the background; our only goal was to onboard them so that we could fight together against terrorism,' he said. The interior minister disclosed that he remained in contact with PTI leaders until 11:45pm on Saturday and had been communicating with them throughout the day about paragraph four of the draft agreement. 'They did not respond all day,' he said. Naqvi claimed he had urged the PTI leadership to reach an understanding, warning that although the situation had escalated considerably, there was still an opportunity to delay the measures the government was considering for Sunday morning. 'I told them that we can still avoid the situation. Things have gone too far, but we can still do something to delay tomorrow morning's situation,' he said, referring to the planned imposition of an emergency. He also acknowledged the efforts of veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman to defuse tensions, but said the mediation had failed to produce a settlement. Naqvi said the Centre had repeatedly conveyed to the PTI that it had 'no issue' with the party's long march, maintaining that the government's principal concern was the security situation and counterterrorism. 'Our issue was entirely terrorism-related, and we want to take you on board on it,' he said. While acknowledging that the KP government faced several governance challenges, Naqvi insisted that the federal government's decision was not politically motivated. 'My and the entire interior ministry's point of view was clear: the situation was not linked to politics even one per cent. We were purely seeing this on the basis of terrorism,' he said. Referring to the October 3 talks between the Centre and the PTI, he argued that the outcome could have been different had the two sides reached an agreement at that stage. 'Even if last night they had said yes, it (emergency) would not have happened,' he said. He also questioned the forces he believed were influencing the opposition's decisions, asking: 'Ask them who their masterminds are. Who were sabotaging them?' The interior minister then outlined the security challenges confronting the province, describing the situation in 12 districts as 'really bad'. 'In some districts, you cannot even leave your house in the evening,' he said. Naqvi stressed that his meetings with KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had focused exclusively on counterterrorism rather than political issues. 'We had multiple meetings with Sohail Afridi, and the only topic was terrorism; no political conversation happened,' he said. He said the federal government had proposed a plan to strengthen the KP Police in five districts initially, with the aim of transferring responsibility for security to the provincial police within six months before repeating the process in another five districts. According to Naqvi, the provincial government had cited a lack of funds, but the Centre had offered to provide whatever additional resources were required. 'They said they had a lack of funds, but it is on the record that we said that we will provide any more funds you need. This was a four-month-old conversation but still no work has happened on it,' he said. The interior minister further claimed that the PTI team had agreed to the imposition of an emergency in 12 districts but was reluctant to be seen meeting federal officials. He said the government had been clear from the outset that it did not want political considerations to interfere with counterterrorism efforts. 'We had clarity on one thing that we did not want to involve politics in this,' he said. Naqvi also alleged that the PTI's links with the Taliban were widely known, but declined to elaborate further. 'Their connections with the Taliban are no secret. I would not say anything further,' he said. He argued that the security situation in some districts was extremely poor, yet the PTI had been able to organise rallies without any casualties. The government, he said, had faced a difficult choice between allowing continued militant violence and taking decisive action to end it. 'We only had two options: either we would see the martyrdoms daily, or we end them. So this difficult decision we have made has a background,' he said, maintaining that the federal government had made every effort to avoid imposing the emergency. During the briefing, Naqvi claimed that the demands subsequently raised by the PTI had already been under consideration the previous month, before the party announced its long march towards Islamabad. He said some members of the PTI itself had questioned the rationale for the march. Recalling the earlier efforts to initiate dialogue, Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had wanted to meet the National Assembly opposition leader the previous month and had proposed the formation of a committee, but the government received no confirmation. 'We were trying our best to hold the meeting before the prime minister left so that the situation could be diffused,' he said, adding that a committee for the October 3 talks was formed later. Naqvi said consultations continued for two days and credited PTI MNA Asad Qaiser with clearly stating that the party would not retreat from its position on counterterrorism. According to Naqvi, Qaiser had said: 'It is not possible that we take even a step back on terrorism.' 'We will not do it for you; we will do it for Pakistan, and we will fight united against terrorism,' Naqvi quoted Qaiser as saying, adding that he had asked the former National Assembly speaker to bring the KP government on board. The interior minister said the draft agreement had subsequently been revised four times, after which the government's negotiating committee discovered that the opposition team had submitted a new draft. 'Although the previous day the chief minister had authorised them to agree on their behalf, the next day it all changed,' Naqvi said.