Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is strictly in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.

Flanked by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, he was briefing representatives of the foreign media in Islamabad on the measures taken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Law Minister said the option has been exercised after thorough deliberations in the federal cabinet for the unity, security, and well-being of the state of Pakistan. He also noted that elected governments in the past have exercised this constitutional option.

Referring to the circumstances which led to this decision, the Law Minister highlighted the increase in terror incidents in the province and lack of willingness by the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to curb the menace.

He said about 2,900 terrorist incidents were reported in the province between 2021 and 2024, while the figure rose by 195 percent to approximately 8,600 over the last two years.

He said it is highly unfortunate that, at a time when security personnel and civilians were being targeted by terrorists, the PTI-led provincial government’s priority was not to curt terrorism through coordinated efforts with federal agencies, but to mobilize people for political gains.

The Law Minister said the decision concerning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been taken by the federal cabinet through consensus, without any dissent, to protect the people of the province and strengthen the federation.

In his remarks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said various efforts were made to engage with the PTI and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to build consensus on counterterrorism measures. He maintained that the federal government had no political agenda and only wanted a unified policy against terrorism.

He regretted that the provincial government was not ready to break the political-terror crime nexus and that they were not ready to fight this war against terrorism. He said that the PTI provincial government was working hand in glove with terrorists and supporting and enabling them to carry out attacks.

The Information Minister said when a government mandated to protect its citizens begins supporting terrorists, the state is left with no option but to exercise its constitutional jurisdiction.

Emphasizing the credentials of the individuals in the new setup, he said each member is accomplished in their respective field, has extensive experience in public service delivery, and possesses integrity beyond any doubt.

He said the new setup has brought renewed hope and assurance that law and order would be maintained in the province. He said improved security would also pave the way for development.