Bilawal Bhutto Calls KP Emergency Difficult but Necessary Constitutional Step

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a difficult decision, but the prevailing circumstances left no other option except taking the constitutional step.

Addressing the National Assembly, Bilawal said the limited political space available to political parties was the responsibility of both the government and the opposition. He once again offered dialogue as a way to resolve political differences and address the country’s security challenges.

Bilawal said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been the province most severely affected by the ongoing security situation, particularly amid tensions with Afghanistan and continued terrorist attacks across the country.

He said statements from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister regarding a lack of cooperation with the federal government in the fight against terrorism had made the situation more difficult.

The PPP chairman said his party’s leadership and workers had made significant sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, making it impossible for the party to turn away from efforts to counter militancy.

Bilawal questioned whether any constitutional, legal or political justification remained for avoiding the emergency decision following actions by the president and statements from the provincial leadership.

Hopes for Progress in Dialogue

Bilawal said two PPP representatives were part of the negotiation committee and that they had been informed late at night that talks were close to reaching an understanding.

According to the proposed framework, the opposition represented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf appeared ready to agree on measures in the areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa most affected by terrorism and on a joint strategy involving the federal and provincial governments.

He said the proposal involved the provincial government playing its role in the worst-affected areas, while the federal government, the KP government and the chief minister would establish a joint counterterrorism strategy through a mutual agreement.

Bilawal said the development had raised hopes of a political breakthrough and could have represented a major achievement for the country, as the government, coalition partners and opposition appeared close to reaching consensus on the critical issue of terrorism.

Government and Opposition Both Responsible

Bilawal said restricting political space for one political party ultimately affects all political parties, political workers and citizens.

He maintained that both the government and opposition had a responsibility for the prevailing political environment and stressed that the search for a political solution should continue despite the emergency.

The PPP chairman called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government, opposition leadership and other political parties to resume dialogue and find a middle ground through negotiations.

He said political differences should be addressed through talks so that the country could move toward consensus while confronting the security challenges facing Pakistan.