PM Shehbaz Defends KP Governor’s Rule, Blames PTI for Rising Terrorism

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Questions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governance

How many universities have been established there? How many new hospitals have been built? How much has the healthcare system improved? Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked on Saturday as he criticized the governance record of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn reported. His remarks came during a meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary party from the province, held in Islamabad.

The federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa earlier this month, pointing to the provincial administration’s failure to tackle rising militant violence. The move followed political tension as Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led supporters toward Islamabad to demand the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. The federal administration subsequently took Afridi into protective custody and transferred executive powers to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.

Security Crisis and Counterterrorism Funding Disputes

During the Islamabad parliamentary meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz pointed to the heavy human and financial toll of militancy in Pakistan. He stated that around 80,000 people have lost their lives and the national economy has suffered losses estimated at Rs15,000 billion since the early 2000s, according to reports. He argued that the PTI administration spent two and a half years engaged in street protests rather than equipping law enforcement. Arab News PK noted estimates placing broader economic losses between $150 billion and $200 billion.

The prime minister questioned the use of hundreds of billions of rupees allocated to the provincial government under a special National Finance Commission arrangement. The ruling coalition and the PTI held opposing stances, with the Centre criticizing the provincial government’s approach toward counterterrorism and dialogue with the Afghan Taliban while the PTI called for reviewing counterterrorism policy.

Opposition Rejects Federal Intervention and Accuses Islamabad

The PTI rejected the federal government’s justifications, challenging Islamabad to account for its own administrative record instead of shifting blame for regional security failures. The opposition party maintained that the Centre withheld necessary security equipment and resources from the province while targeting PTI workers with intimidation and arrests.

What Happens Next as Federal Control Takes Hold

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi holds executive control of the province under the emergency decree while federal authorities manage security operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz instructed PML-N lawmakers in the province to concentrate on short-term welfare projects in their constituencies over the next six months to a year rather than long-term infrastructure. Meanwhile, legal and political challenges to the suspension of the provincial assembly continue to wind through political forums as the federal administration defends the intervention as a necessary step to stabilize regional security.