Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to chair a provincial apex committee meeting in Peshawar to review security and counterterrorism measures following the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Peshawar on Thursday for his first visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency measures in the province on Oct. 11, with security and counterterrorism expected to be the focus of his engagements.
According to official sources, the prime minister is expected to chair a meeting of the provincial apex committee to review the security situation and discuss measures to counter terrorism.
The visit comes amid heightened political tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which previously governed the province. The federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP, accusing the PTI-led provincial administration of deliberately disengaging from counterterrorism efforts.
Parliament endorsed the decisions last week amid strong protests from opposition lawmakers.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assumed responsibility for running the province under the new administrative arrangement. Shortly after governor’s rule was imposed, he chaired an apex committee meeting attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
During that meeting, Kundi pledged to implement federal government policies and strengthen coordination with security forces to restore peace and stability. He identified counterterrorism as the administration’s top priority.
The governor also called for closer coordination between federal and provincial authorities, maintaining that counterterrorism policies should be formulated in Islamabad rather than Kabul. His remarks were widely understood as criticism of the previous PTI-led provincial government’s approach to dealing with militant groups.
The federal government’s decision came against the backdrop of escalating tensions with the PTI, which had organised protests and a march demanding the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
Negotiations between the government and opposition had collapsed shortly before governor’s rule was imposed. Differences over counterterrorism policies, security arrangements and engagement with the Afghan Taliban were among the major obstacles to reaching an agreement.
The PTI maintained that it was being excluded from key security decisions affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and called for a review of the existing counterterrorism strategy. The federal government rejected the allegations and questioned the provincial administration’s performance in tackling militancy.
Following the imposition of emergency measures, the federal government also authorised the deployment of Pakistan Army personnel and resources in the province to assist the civilian administration.
Federal ministers have repeatedly accused the former provincial government of maintaining links with militant groups, allegations the PTI has rejected. The federal government has cited the deteriorating security situation as a key justification for the emergency measures.
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