JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday accused the federal government in the National Assembly of misusing the Constitution through KP Governor's rule and emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning that his party would resist a policy of confrontation.
The Centre imposed Governor's rule and an emergency in the province on 11 October, citing what it described as the provincial government's "deliberate disengagement" from the fight against terrorism. Fazl said the government's claim that it acted under the Constitution did not change his view: he alleged the law and the Constitution had both been misused, and that power had shifted "by force" rather than through public opinion.
What Fazl told the House
Speaking on the floor, Fazl blamed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for failing to protect the sanctity of the Constitution and Parliament. He said tolerance in the elected House had worn thin and politics was deteriorating. He invited the government and mainstream opposition parties to draft a fresh Charter of Democracy to keep the country clear of unconstitutional steps and violence.
He argued that, whatever his reservations about the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, change should come through the people, not by "upending everything." He described KP Governor's rule applying in one part of the province and emergency arrangements in another—apparently referring to special emergency measures in 12 districts overseen by a council—and suggested the simultaneous use of both tools in that way may be without precedent.
Fazl also recalled mediating during the PTI long march towards Islamabad. After talks with senior PML-N and PTI leaders, he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who asked for the march to be called off. The next day, he said, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told him the cabinet would not accept that path and that Governor's rule must be imposed in KP. On the morning of 11 October, he said, he was phoned around 9:30am about discussion of his efforts in the cabinet, and around 10:30am Dar again said the cabinet insisted on Governor's rule "at all costs."
He questioned federal claims of restored order, pointing to what he called a worse security picture in Balochistan, including reports of commissioners being kidnapped and of the son of the Khan of Kalat being abducted. He rejected doubts about his party's patriotism, saying the JUI-F had paid a heavy price against terrorism and that its sacrifices were being mocked. Pakistan, he said, belonged to all citizens, not to any military officer. He warned that if the government sought confrontation, his party was ready to meet it, saying they were prepared to die rather than be condemned by history.
Government and PTI responses
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the measures. He said Governor's rule was limited to six months and that emergency steps applied only in a few terrorism-hit districts. Leaders, he argued, must choose the state over support for the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said Balochistan's situation differed from KP's, alleged that PTI Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had used provincial resources to push protesters towards Islamabad and had defended terrorists, and claimed efforts to secure the chief minister's cooperation against terrorism had been exhausted.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan criticised what he called political victimisation of party workers and leaders in Punjab and KP. He urged democratic means instead of force and asked for a parliamentary committee to chart a way forward. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq replied that three committees had already been formed, but PTI members had repeatedly walked out.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 11 October: The Centre imposes Governor's rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing provincial disengagement from counterterrorism.
- 11 October, about 9:30am: Fazl says he is told his mediation is being discussed in the cabinet meeting that later decides on the emergency and Governor's rule.
- 11 October, about 10:30am: Fazl says Ishaq Dar phones him to say the cabinet rejects the mediation proposal and insists on Governor's rule.
- Days after 11 October: Fazl criticises the Centre over provincial rights and its counterterrorism rationale; after federal ministers rebuke him, he stresses his criticism targets policies, not institutions.
- Wednesday (National Assembly sitting): Fazl renews the Constitution-misuse charge; the parliamentary affairs minister defends the six-month Governor's rule and limited emergency; Barrister Gohar seeks parliamentary dialogue.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Maulana Fazlur Rehman ne Parliament mein kaha ke federal hukumat ne KP mein Governor's rule aur emergency laga kar Constitution ka galat istemal kiya. Yeh steps 11 October ko lage the. Hukumat ke wazir ne kaha ke Governor's rule chheh mahine ke liye hai aur emergency sirf kuchh districts mein hai. Aam logon ke liye yeh matlab hai ke KP ki siyasi aur security soorat-e-haal ab bhi tension mein hai, aur parties ek dusre se dialogue ya confrontation dono ke raste dekh rahi hain.
