Opposition leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Mahmood Khan Achakzai have opposed the imposition of an emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), demanding that the government reverse its decisions and resolve political disputes through negotiations.
Addressing the National Assembly, the leaders accused the government of weakening democratic institutions and undermining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) mandate. They also offered to restart talks with the government, while raising concerns about counterterrorism policy, provincial autonomy and governance.
Both leaders said terrorism was a serious threat to Pakistan but questioned whether emergency measures in KP were the right way to address the situation. They urged the government to engage political stakeholders and find a solution through dialogue.
Barrister Gohar Criticises Emergency Measures
Speaking in the National Assembly, Barrister Gohar said terrorism should have no place in Pakistan and described terrorists as enemies of the state. He also referred to a train accident that he and Achakzai had condemned. Gohar alleged that India was behind the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while also claiming that the group’s activities were against India’s own interests.
Gohar accused the government of dealing a blow to democracy by removing an elected government. He rejected the notifications concerning the provincial arrangements and argued that the PTI’s authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had already been restricted before the emergency was imposed.
Discussing previous negotiations between the government and opposition, Gohar referred to PPP Senator Sherry Rehman’s reported request for the PTI to call off its long march. He questioned why discussions about political matters had shifted towards terrorism. He also said that agreeing to sit with the government had been a mistake on both sides.
Gohar Announces Protest Over Governor’s Rule
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Gohar announced a protest against the emergency and Governor’s Rule in KP. He claimed that the province had been deprived of its authority and questioned how its elected leadership could govern effectively under the current arrangements.
Gohar alleged that government officials were not following the chief minister’s instructions. He referred to deputy commissioners and district police officers, questioning how the provincial administration could function if officials did not follow the chief executive’s orders.
He also challenged the government’s approach to security measures. Gohar argued that if emergency action was necessary to tackle terrorism, the government should explain why similar steps were not being considered in Balochistan and the katcha riverine areas.
He further questioned the Pakistan Peoples Party’s position on the deployment of Rangers in Sindh, calling for consistency in the government’s security policy.
Achakzai Demands Withdrawal of Emergency
Mahmood Khan Achakzai also criticised the government’s decision to impose an emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of both measures and accused the government of taking away the PTI’s political mandate.
Achakzai warned that the government’s actions could increase tensions between the centre and the provinces. He urged the authorities to empower parliament and avoid measures that could further complicate the political situation.
He also cautioned against harassing citizens and relying excessively on force. Instead, he called for negotiations with political stakeholders to resolve the dispute.
Defending former KP chief minister Sohail Afridi, Achakzai described him as a decent person and said he had urged people to stand against what he considered oppression.
Achakzai Offers Direct Meeting With Shehbaz Sharif
Achakzai said he was ready to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the country’s problems and find a way forward under the Constitution. He even suggested placing two chairs in the National Assembly so that the two leaders could sit face to face and discuss the political crisis.
He maintained that the emergency decision was wrong and urged the government to reconsider its position. His offer came as both opposition leaders called for dialogue despite their strong criticism of the government’s actions.
Achakzai also referred to PTI founder Imran Khan and said the opposition would make a commitment to meet him. He said the purpose would be to discuss the situation within the party and explore the possibility of restarting negotiations from where previous talks had stopped.
Achakzai added that the opposition would not disclose details of those discussions to others.
Achakzai Calls for Corruption Investigation
During his address, Achakzai raised concerns about corruption and administrative issues. He alleged that corruption worth trillions of rupees was taking place in Pakistan and claimed that more than 23,000 civilian and military bureaucrats held dual nationality.
He called on the country’s relevant institutions to investigate the matter. He also proposed that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif lead a committee to examine the allegations. The figures and claims cited by Achakzai were not independently verified in the information provided.
Political Dialogue Remains Central to Opposition Demand
Gohar and Achakzai maintained that terrorism must be addressed but opposed the government’s emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They argued that political disputes should be resolved through negotiations, constitutional processes and parliamentary engagement.
Achakzai’s offer to meet the prime minister indicates the opposition leaders’ stated willingness to resume talks. However, both leaders continue to demand the withdrawal of the emergency and Governor’s Rule, leaving the dispute between the government and opposition unresolved.
Also read: Barrister Gohar Urges Politicians Not to Politicize Martyrs
