JI opposes governor’s rule, emergency in KP, announces APC participation

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman opposed on Friday the imposition of governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying his party would not support any step that suspends or undermines the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Rehman also announced that JI would participate in the proposed all-parties conference (APC), calling for a national consensus on peace, economic conditions and the political process.

“We need a national agenda on which there is consensus regarding peace and security, the economic situation and the people’s right to rule,” he said, adding that Pakistan belonged to its 250 million people rather than any single party or institution.

His comments come amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led KP administration over the province’s security situation and PTI’s planned Oct. 4 march on Islamabad. According to reports, the federal government has recently discussed emergency measures in the province, although no immediate decision was taken.

Rehman said JI had previously opposed such measures and was again making its position clear.“If there is talk of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we do not accept it. Similarly, we will not support emergency; we oppose it,” he said.

He said the government should have initiated meaningful negotiations earlier with PTI and other opposition parties, arguing that delays had worsened the situation.

Rehman welcomed the formation of a committee for dialogue but said it should produce results rather than become a “photo session”.

He also backed several of PTI’s demands concerning its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, saying political party members should be allowed to meet him and that concerns over his health should be addressed.

Rehman said the Supreme Court’s decision concerning Khan should be implemented in letter and spirit and that restrictions on meetings should be removed.

He also called for greater attention to the health and legal concerns of detained PTI leaders and women, including Khan’s sisters and Dr Yasmin Rashid. He urged that courts be allowed to function properly and that there should be no unnecessary obstacles to bail.

“If the government makes progress on these demands, things will be diluted and the situation will improve,” he said.

Rehman said JI had discussed the issue with PTI members and that they had not rejected negotiations.

He argued that Pakistan needed a common agenda focused not only on the opposition but also on restoring the broader democratic, political and constitutional process.

The ruling coalition and PTI are due to hold talks on Friday as tensions rise ahead of the Oct. 4 march.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the political and security situation, with particular focus on KP, on Thursday.