Bilawal says KP emergency and governor's rule could end if opposition backs joint anti-terror plan

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Sunday that the governor’s rule and emergency imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could end if the opposition engages with the federal government on a united counterterrorism plan (Dawn).

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Bilawal made the remarks while visiting the Karsaz Monument to mark the 19th anniversary of the 2007 Karsaz bombing. He put the onus squarely on the opposition to come to the table, saying: “If they really want to fight terrorists, and if they want that emergency and governor’s rule in KP to end, they should engage with the federal government and politicians and discuss a united policy regarding the fight against terrorism.” He added: “If the opposition is ready to fight terrorism and ‘we agree on a plan’ to do so, the emergency and governor’s rule in KP could end” (Business Recorder; Samaa).

He stressed that the opposition’s engagement was the condition for lifting the measures, framing a joint plan as the explicit path back to normal provincial rule (Samaa).

Bilawal launched a direct attack on KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, calling him a “coward” and saying that if Afridi was not ready to fight terrorists then the PPP was ready. He confirmed the PPP had supported the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule in the province, while also saying JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman could help bring governor’s rule to an end if he made an effort (Dawn).

The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP about a week ago, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move followed a PTI mobilisation drive and protest march demanding the release of jailed founder Imran Khan, setting up a continued standoff between the federation and the PTI-led provincial government (Business Recorder).

The governor’s rule move was backed by the PPP, with Bilawal positioning the party as ready to join the counterterrorism effort if the provincial leadership would not (Dawn).