Major Announcement Rejecting Emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Islamabad (Qudrat Daily): The parliamentary party of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rejecting the move. The party has declared it contrary to the public mandate and announced that it will approach constitutional and legal forums.

According to details, a three-hour-long meeting of PTI’s parliamentary party was held, in which the matter of the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was discussed. In a statement issued after the meeting, the decision was unanimously rejected.

According to the statement, the imposition of emergency is an attack on the public mandate and an unconstitutional and undemocratic move. The party says that rendering the elected provincial government ineffective could pose threats to the federal system, while there is also a fear of increased political instability and tension between the federation and the province.

PTI, while raising questions over the federal government’s conduct, demanded a comparative review of the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The statement said that if terrorism is the reason for imposing emergency, then why is the same standard not being applied in Balochistan? The party alleged that the purpose of this move is not the establishment of peace but to make PTI’s provincial government a target of political revenge.

The parliamentary party, while condemning every form of terrorism, expressed its commitment to eliminating it. The statement also demanded that importance be given to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s resolution and the recommendations of the peace jirga regarding counter-terrorism measures.

PTI condemned the arrest of elected Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, calling it an insult to the public mandate. The party also expressed concern over the arrest of provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan and demanded his immediate release. Additionally, objections were raised over the arrests and harassment of other elected representatives and workers.

The statement criticized the role of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, alleging that under pressure from the federal government, unjustified arrests of PTI leaders were made and orders were issued under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The party demanded a legal review of these orders and action against those responsible.

PTI’s parliamentary party, while emphasizing the immediate end of all illegal arrests and political revenge actions, said that every legal and constitutional forum will be approached to protect the public mandate, provincial autonomy, and the supremacy of the Constitution. The party also expressed its commitment to continuing its struggle for the protection of democratic institutions.