ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided against imposing emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for now, instead giving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) another opportunity to reconsider its October 4 march.
Highly placed sources told The News on Wednesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the worsening political and security situation in KP with key advisers and senior members of his team.
The meeting also reviewed the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad.
Sources said participants discussed emergency and governor’s rule, but made no decision to invoke either option.
The prevailing view was to wait for the PTI’s next move, particularly whether it would call off the march and adopt a different political approach.
Government Offers Opportunity for De-escalation
According to sources, the government is prepared to give the PTI time to reduce tensions and move away from what federal authorities describe as confrontation-based politics.
These concerns include road blockades, disruption in Islamabad and an increasingly adversarial narrative towards state institutions.
Sources said a positive response from the PTI could open the way for political and administrative steps to address several issues involving the party and its leadership.
These could include improved access to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan and consideration of medical treatment or hospitalisation where medically necessary.
Authorities could also help resolve issues involving meetings between Khan and his lawyers, family members and close relatives.
Similar facilitation could be considered for Bushra Bibi, including access to her family and legal team, sources said.
However, sources stressed that any release of Imran Khan would remain a matter for the courts. The government cannot guarantee or decide his release.
The government’s position, according to the sources, is that the situation can still be resolved through political engagement if the PTI agrees to de-escalate.
The October 4 march has therefore become a key test of the party’s willingness to change its current approach.
PTI Says October 4 Protest Will Go Ahead
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Wednesday that the party’s call for the October 4 protest march remained unchanged.
He maintained that the protest would be peaceful and urged the federal government not to impose governor’s rule or emergency in KP.
The PTI had initially planned the march for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4.
The delay followed extensive preparations by authorities and heightened political tensions over the proposed movement towards Islamabad.
The latest government discussions come amid growing federal concerns about security in KP and relations between the provincial government and federal security institutions.
