ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government for the circumstances that led to the imposition of an emergency in the province, describing its actions as a “political suicide attack”.
Addressing the National Assembly on Wednesday, Bilawal said the emergency and governor’s rule were measures taken under the Constitution.
The parliamentary session was convened to discuss the federal government’s decision to impose an emergency and governor’s rule in KP. The assembly suspended question hour to allow debate on the issue.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled a motion concerning the emergency proclamation, while Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar opened the discussion.
Bilawal Renews Offer of Talks With Opposition
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Bilawal said President Asif Ali Zardari had approved the emergency in KP in accordance with the Constitution.
The PPP chairman said the government had made efforts to engage the opposition and held talks before approving the move.
“Emergency was imposed out of necessity and was not intended to continue indefinitely,” he said, renewing his offer of negotiations with the opposition.
“I am still asking the government today to extend its hand towards the opposition for negotiations,” he added.
Bilawal urged the opposition to engage with the government and help create conditions in which the emergency would no longer be necessary.
He said he would personally ask the prime minister to end the emergency if the opposition helped bring about such a political situation. However, he made clear that the PPP supported the decision to impose the emergency in KP.
Tarar Says KP Government’s Counterterrorism Approach Threatens National Security
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the KP government’s approach to combating terrorism posed a “threat to national security”.
He said some people had argued that the emergency was imposed to remove an elected government. Tarar responded that the proposal emerged after two and a half hours of discussion during a cabinet meeting.
The law minister also alleged that the ideology of a political party had contributed to the spread of terrorism.
Criticising KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Tarar said he had disregarded the sacrifices of armed forces personnel and civilians who had lost their lives.
PTI Accuses Government of Assault on Democracy
Addressing the assembly, Barrister Gohar accused the federal government of undermining democracy through the imposition of an emergency in KP. He alleged that the government was using terrorism as a pretext for the move.
“You have launched an assault on democracy,” he said.
Gohar also alleged that other actors were operating behind the terrorists in the area where the emergency had been imposed.
He accused the government of making the country dysfunctional and using terrorism as justification for imposing governor’s rule and an emergency in KP.
Background to the Emergency in KP
Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed an emergency and governor’s rule in KP on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing the province’s deteriorating security situation.
According to a press release issued by the President Secretariat’s Media Wing on October 1, the decision followed recommendations from the federal cabinet, formal advice from the prime minister and law-and-order reports submitted by relevant security institutions.
The National Assembly session on Wednesday provided a forum for government and opposition lawmakers to present their positions on the constitutional measure and debate the province’s security situation.
