In Gujranwala on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was blunt: the federal government imposed emergency and governor's rule because it believed silence would mean watching bloodshed unfold during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march and a collapse of law and order. He told reporters the Centre was left with no other option and that failing to act would have been treated by later generations as criminal negligence.
Shehbaz and Nawaz have both publicly defended the KP governance move on security grounds.
Why the Centre says it acted
The prime minister said the government could not keep watching the province deteriorate while violence and political agitation stacked up. Invoking the image of Rome burning while Nero played the fiddle, he argued that inaction would have amounted to criminal negligence and that the decision was taken in Pakistan's best interests. He prayed the step would yield positive results.
He described Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an integral and beautiful part of the country whose people show courage and resilience, while saying the province was suffering a spate of violence. On security, he pointed to a resurgence of terrorism and infiltration from Afghanistan since 2018, pledged all available resources and administrative facilities against terror groups, and regretted the continuing loss of law-enforcement personnel, Pakistan Army officers, and civilians, including women and children.
Talks, the long march and political fallout
Shehbaz said he had held several meetings with the province's former chief minister and with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in what he called sincere efforts to address provincial problems. He alleged that PTI long marches and protests had repeatedly disrupted national life, recalled the 2013-14 unrest that he said froze economic activity and damaged imports, exports, agriculture and jobs, and claimed similar disruption had returned last year, with widespread violence planned around the October long march.
According to the prime minister, a committee talked with relevant parties for around 48 hours to stop the march. He said a comprehensive agreement was prepared on the expectation that PTI would withdraw the call while the country pursued recovery, but the talks fell apart after consultations with the now-suspended KP chief minister. With the march halted, he said Pakistan's international standing improved and the domestic economy had stabilised and begun moving toward recovery and growth.
Nawaz's backing and the interim setup
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Nawaz Sharif, speaking to reporters in London, backed emergency in the province and said the measure should have been taken earlier as law and order worsened. He called the step necessary and asked which country allows a chief minister to use government resources to attack the federal capital.
Defending interim governance for two months, Shehbaz said inaction was no longer an option for the people of the province. An advisory council had been set up, which he described as neutral, overwhelmingly non-political, and filled with highly respected individuals. He said he would stay involved and attend its meetings when needed, and expressed hope the measures would restore peace and stability.
The remarks came during a Gujranwala visit with Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar and Attaullah Tarar to offer condolences on the death of Barrister Mahmood Virk, a PML-N worker. The premier also praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's performance.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 2013-14: The prime minister recalled political unrest that he said brought economic activity to a standstill and hurt trade, agriculture and employment.
- Since 2018: He linked a harder security picture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to a resurgence of terrorism and infiltration from Afghanistan.
- October: He alleged PTI planned widespread violence around a long march; a federal committee held about 48 hours of talks aimed at a negotiated halt.
- Saturday (Gujranwala): Shehbaz publicly defended emergency and governor's rule; Nawaz, from London, said the step was necessary and overdue.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Wazir-e-Azam Shehbaz Sharif ne kaha ke Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mein emergency aur governor rule is liye lagi ke khoon-kharaba aur law-and-order bigarne ka khatra tha. Unka kehna hai ke centre ke paas koi aur rasta nahi bacha tha, khas tor par PTI long march ke doran. Nawaz Sharif ne bhi is faisle ka sath diya aur kaha ke yeh pehle ho jana chahiye tha. Ab do mahine ki interim hukumat aur aik advisory council se amn aur mamuli zindagi behtar hone ki umeed jatai ja rahi hai.
