PM Shehbaz takes allies into confidence on KP governor's rule, says Centre made every effort to avoid 'extreme step'

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday took the allies of the ruling PML-N into confidence on the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the Centre had made every effort to avoid this “extreme step”. The Centre on Sunday imposed governor’s rule in KP and emergency in 12 of its districts, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. PM Shehbaz held a meeting with leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), as well as a separate huddle with a parliamentary delegation comprising representatives of PML-Q, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) and PML-Zia. During the meeting with the MQM-P delegation led by Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the two sides exchanged views on the country’s overall and political situation, the PM Office (PMO) said.

The prime minister said the government had to take this “most difficult decision” in the interest of the people of KP. “We made every effort to avoid taking this extreme step in any way. We engaged in negotiations with an open heart, but did not receive a positive response from the other side,” he was quoted as saying. The premier noted that rising terrorist attacks in KP were targeting ordinary citizens and security forces, while the provincial government “failed to openly raise its voice against terrorist groups”. PM Shehbaz also termed the PTI’s long march a “conspiracy to destroy the country’s improving economy”. According to PMO, the MQM-P delegation assured the prime minister of its full support for the government’s decisions regarding KP. On the MQM’s side, the delegation included Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Senator Khalida Ateeb, MNA Farooq Sattar, Syed Waseem…