Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry says preparations are complete for a possible emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as tensions rise over counterterrorism cooperation and the PTI’s Islamabad march.

The federal government has completed preparations to impose governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said Friday, calling on the provincial government to cooperate with federal authorities and security agencies in combating terrorism.

Speaking on a television programme, Chaudhry said the proposed measure would cover the entire province rather than only 12 districts. However, he did not announce a date for any decision, saying the government believed further delays in addressing terrorism were no longer possible.

Chaudhry rejected suggestions that the proposed emergency was linked to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards Islamabad. He said the government had managed major political marches in the past and did not consider the current protest a significant challenge.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also linked the possible imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency to counterterrorism efforts, saying the issue could be resolved if the KP government supported federal authorities and security agencies.

Sanaullah urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI leaders to clarify their position on cooperation with security agencies. He also referred to Afridi’s statements opposing military operations in the province, saying the federal government wanted clear support from the provincial administration in tackling security threats.

Sanaullah said an emergency would not necessarily involve the forced displacement of residents. He maintained that security agencies could conduct intelligence-based operations against suspected terrorists without requiring entire communities to leave their homes.

KP Law Minister Aftab Alam, however, questioned the federal government’s position, saying differing statements by federal ministers had created confusion over the reasons for considering an emergency.

Alam said some federal ministers had linked the proposed measure to the PTI’s long march, while others had cited the provincial government’s alleged lack of cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. He rejected the allegations, saying the PTI and the KP government supported law enforcement agencies and that the provincial administration had strengthened the police.

The debate over governor’s rule has added to tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier said the government was examining legal options, including governor’s rule, if the PTI proceeded with its planned march. Information Minister Atta Tarar subsequently said the government had no plan to remove the provincial administration.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam has also said consultations were taking place on the constitutional and legal options available to the federal government.

Afridi has rejected the warnings, saying he would not change his position because of threats of governor’s rule or an emergency. He also warned that PTI supporters could take to the streets if the federal government attempted to remove his government.

The latest developments follow the collapse of talks between the government and opposition parties. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition groups over the planned march and security concerns in KP.

The negotiations continued for two days but ended in a deadlock. The PTI demanded a meeting with its jailed founder, Imran Khan, and said the government’s refusal to accept the demand contributed to the failure of the talks. The government, meanwhile, blamed the KP administration, particularly Afridi, for the breakdown.

After the negotiations failed, Afridi continued leading the PTI’s march towards Islamabad. The protest entered its sixth day Friday as the convoy moved towards Charsadda.

Shehbaz Sharif later offered to resume talks if the PTI ended its march and sit-ins. The party rejected the offer and continued its protest, leaving the political dispute unresolved as the federal government considers possible measures in KP.