Centre announces 11-member advisory council for KP, secretariat for 12 districts

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has established an 11-member advisory council for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a separate administrative secretariat to oversee 12 terrorism-affected districts, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Sunday, as he defended the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Nazeer Tarar said President Asif Ali Zardari had invoked Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following detailed consultations and unsuccessful negotiations with the provincial government.

He said the government had also issued a fresh proclamation under Article 245 to provide assistance to the provincial administration through the armed forces, describing the move as an effort to bring greater coordination to counterterrorism operations.

Nazeer Tarar said the constitutional measures were taken in response to what he described as an exceptionally serious security situation, with terrorist attacks and extremist activities posing a grave threat to lives and property in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The federal government had exhausted efforts to reach an understanding with the provincial administration, he said, adding that negotiations continued until 2:30am but failed to resolve the differences.

Emergency and governor’s rule

Explaining the constitutional basis for the decision, Nazeer Tarar said the Constitution provided mechanisms for situations in which national security was threatened by internal disturbances or external aggression, as well as circumstances in which a provincial government could not function in accordance with the Constitution.

He said Article 149(4) empowered the federal government to issue directions to provinces on matters relating to public order and the security of Pakistan.

Article 232 deals with the proclamation of an emergency in qualifying circumstances involving threats to the security of Pakistan or any part of the country, while Article 234 provides for action when the constitutional machinery of a province is considered unable to function in accordance with the Constitution.

Tarar said the security situation along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, combined with internal threats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had created circumstances that warranted the use of these constitutional provisions.

He said the government had previously been asked whether it was considering an emergency and had maintained that any decision would be taken only when sufficient material was available to justify the exercise of presidential powers within the constitutional framework.

According to Tarar, the federal government had now assessed the available reports and evidence and concluded that the conditions for invoking both provisions had been met.

He described the situation as exceptional, saying the government had therefore invoked both Articles 232 and 234.

Under the administrative arrangements announced following the proclamation, an 11-member advisory council has been proposed to assist Governor Faisal Karim Kundi during the interim period.

Tarar said the council was intended to bring together people who could work towards improving governance and addressing the province’s challenges during the transitional arrangement.

A separate secretariat has also been established for 12 districts where, according to the government, the security situation is particularly severe.

The secretariat will operate under the governor and the chief secretary and will directly oversee administrative matters in the designated districts, while keeping the federal government informed about developments on the ground.

Attaullah Tarar unveils 11-member advisory council for KP

Addressing the press conference, Information Minister Atta Tarar unveiled the portfolios of an 11-member advisory council formed to assist the governor in administering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, describing its members as experienced professionals selected on merit.

Atta Tarar said the council brought together former civil servants, legal experts, academics, public-sector professionals and political representatives who would oversee key administrative areas during the interim arrangement.

The council includes retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar for health, former Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman Tariq Mahmood Pasha for finance and National Assembly member Samar Haroon Bilour for information and broadcasting.

Other members are Kifayatullah Khan for home affairs, Amir Javed for law, Dr Syed Amir Abdullah for education, Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah for mines and minerals, Dr Muhammad Irshad for industries and commerce, Asif Rafiq Afridi for communications and works, local government, housing and transport, Tayyab Qureshi for religious affairs, and Usman Saifullah Khan for energy.

Tarar said the council would work under the governor and use its members’ experience to improve governance and public service delivery during the period in which the provincial government’s executive functions have been suspended.

The announcement follows the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in the province, citing the deteriorating security situation and what it describes as the provincial administration’s failure to effectively tackle terrorism. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which led the provincial government, has criticised the federal action as illegitimate.

Council members bring experience from public service, law and academia

Presenting the members individually, Tarar highlighted their professional backgrounds and explained why they had been assigned their respective portfolios.

Presenting the members individually, Tarar highlighted their professional backgrounds and explained why they had been assigned their respective portfolios.

Home affairs — Kifayatullah Khan

Tarar described Khan as a former inspector general of prisons and former chairman of the FATA Tribunal. He said Khan had also served in the home and tribal affairs departments and held administrative positions, including commissioner in Dera Ismail Khan and Mardan.

The minister said Khan’s experience in law enforcement, administration and tribal affairs would be useful in overseeing the home portfolio at a time when the province faces serious security challenges.

Finance — Tariq Mahmood Pasha

Pasha, a former chairman of the FBR, was assigned the finance portfolio. Tarar described him as a senior civil servant with experience in revenue administration and economic management.

He said Pasha had also served in Punjab and held senior positions in the finance and economic affairs divisions. Tarar praised his public-service record and said the council included people with technical expertise in their respective fields.

Law — Amir Javed

Tarar said Javed had served as advocate general and additional attorney general of Pakistan and was an advocate of the Supreme Court.

The minister highlighted Javed’s legal experience and described him as a professional with a strong reputation for integrity within the legal community.

Education — Dr Syed Amir Abdullah

Abdullah, who was assigned the education portfolio, previously served as caretaker provincial minister for industries and commerce, according to Tarar.

The minister said Abdullah had also been a member of an expert committee of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and held a doctorate in international relations from the Netherlands. He described him as having expertise in international relations and education-related matters.

Health — retired Lt Gen Nigar Johar

Tarar highlighted Johar’s military medical career, identifying her as a former surgeon general of the Pakistan Army and Pakistan’s first female lieutenant general.

He said she had represented Pakistan at international forums and earned recognition for her professional service. Johar’s appointment, he added, brought senior medical and administrative experience to the health portfolio.

Mines and minerals — Dr Sarfaraz Ali Shah

Shah was assigned the mines and minerals portfolio. Tarar said he had served as an adviser in planning and development and had also worked in the communications and works department.

The minister cited Shah’s doctorate in economics from France, saying the council included members with academic qualifications and experience in public administration.

Industries and commerce — Dr Muhammad Irshad

Tarar said Irshad was a former chairman of the FBR, held a doctorate in finance and was a member of the board of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

He argued that Irshad’s experience in financial management and public institutions would be relevant to the portfolio, which covers industrial and commercial development.

Communications and works, local government, housing and transport — Asif Rafiq Afridi

Afridi was assigned responsibility for communications and works, local government, housing and transport.

Tarar described him as a former caretaker provincial minister and an experienced entrepreneur and developer. He said the council’s composition also drew on private-sector experience.

Religious affairs — Tayyab Qureshi

Tarar identified Qureshi as the province’s senior religious preacher, administrator of Jamia Ashrafia in Peshawar and imam of the historic Mohabbat Khan Mosque.

The minister praised Qureshi’s religious outreach and his contribution to efforts against extremism. He said religious scholars could play a role in countering militant narratives and promoting messages of peace.

Energy — Usman Saifullah Khan

Tarar said Usman Saifullah Khan was a former senator who had served on the board of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute and the management board of Pakistan State Oil.

He also cited Khan’s role in the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, describing him as an experienced figure in the business and energy sectors.

Information and broadcasting — Samar Haroon Bilour

Tarar said Bilour, a member of the National Assembly, had previously served in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and chaired its information and public relations standing committee.

He praised her family’s sacrifices in attacks by militants, referring to the killings of members of the Bilour family, which has been associated with the Awami National Party.

Tarar said Bilour had continued to speak against terrorism despite the losses suffered by her family. He described her as an educated and independent voice from the province and said her experience in legislative and public affairs made her suitable for the information portfolio.

Government says council will support interim administration

Tarar said the council’s members had been selected for their professional experience and ability to contribute to governance during the interim period.

The advisory council will operate under Governor Faisal Karim Kundi as the federal government implements the constitutional arrangements announced following the suspension of the provincial executive.

Tarar said an Area Reconstruction and Development Council would handle matters relating to reconstruction and development in the affected districts. An officer of additional chief secretary rank would serve as administrator under the proposed arrangement.

He said the names of the 12 districts had been notified and that their administrative affairs would be handled through the new mechanism involving the governor and the federal government.

The arrangements, he added, were intended to improve coordination, address security-related challenges and ensure that development and administrative work continued in areas affected by militancy.

Provincial leadership removed from office

Tarar said the proclamation had rendered the offices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general inactive with immediate effect, along with other constitutional office-holders covered by the order.

Under the constitutional framework, the governor has been authorised to exercise the provincial government’s functions assigned to him by the federal government through the proclamation and subsequent orders.

The law minister said the mechanism would allow the province’s affairs to be administered through constitutional procedures, with further directions issued as necessary to achieve the objectives of the proclamation.

The federal government announced the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule on Sunday after President Zardari approved the cabinet’s recommendation. The move places the PTI-led provincial government’s executive functions under the new arrangement.

Fresh proclamation for armed forces

Atta Tarar said the federal government had also issued a fresh proclamation under Article 245 to enable the armed forces to assist the provincial administration in its efforts to counter terrorism.

He clarified that troops were already deployed in the province and were conducting operations against militants. The new proclamation, he said, was intended to strengthen coordination and help turn ongoing efforts into a more organised campaign.

He paid tribute to military personnel and officers who had lost their lives in the fight against terrorism, saying they were making sacrifices to eliminate the threat.

The law minister said the constitutional mechanism allowed the federal government to issue appropriate orders through the governor from time to time, in accordance with the Constitution, to support the administration and pursue the objectives set out in the proclamation.

Terrorism poses threat beyond KP, says Tarar

Atta Tarar said the proclamation cited an unprecedented increase in the intensity of terrorist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning that the threat extended beyond the province.

He referred to the Global Terrorism Index, saying Pakistan had been ranked the country most affected by terrorism for the first time. He argued that the security situation also had implications for the economy and efforts to attract foreign investment.

Atta Tarar said Pakistan could not pursue economic growth and seek foreign investment without addressing the security challenges confronting the country.

He maintained that the measures were aimed at improving security and governance, and that the government had acted after negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

The federal government has repeatedly argued that stronger cooperation between the Centre and the provincial administration is necessary to combat militancy. The PTI-led provincial government has been at odds with the Centre over counterterrorism policy and the handling of the province’s security situation.

Naqvi says emergency followed failed efforts to secure PTI cooperation on terrorism

Addressing the press conference, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the federal government had made extensive efforts to secure the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s cooperation in combating terrorism before imposing an emergency and governor’s rule, claiming that militancy had increased by 195 per cent in the province over roughly 18 months.

, Naqvi said the federal government had repeatedly attempted to bring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration on board, but the efforts had failed to produce practical progress.

He said the security situation had deteriorated significantly, with 12 districts facing particularly serious challenges, including restrictions on residents’ movement after dark, targeted killings of police personnel and attacks on other officials.

“Today was not an easy day for us,” Naqvi said, adding that the government had tried for more than a month to secure the provincial administration’s cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Proposed police plan remained unimplemented

Naqvi said he had held several meetings with former chief minister Sohail Afridi, with counterterrorism being the sole subject of discussion rather than politics.

He said the federal government had proposed strengthening the police force in five districts during the first six months, enabling the army and Frontier Constabulary to withdraw from those areas and hand over responsibility to the police. The same approach would then be extended to another five districts over the following six months.

According to Naqvi, the provincial government raised concerns about funding, prompting him to offer federal assistance to cover any shortfall.

He said the proposal had been discussed around four months earlier but had yet to be implemented, despite what he described as a positive response from the provincial side at the time.

The minister also claimed that the provincial government had agreed during negotiations that an emergency should be imposed in 12 districts because of the prevailing security situation, to restore normal life and address residents’ problems.

Naqvi said the government wanted the provincial administration to take ownership of the counterterrorism effort and develop a coordinated strategy with federal institutions.

Minister cites rise in terrorism, police casualties

Citing official figures, Naqvi claimed that terrorist activity had increased by about 195 per cent over approximately 18 months, while casualties among security personnel had risen by around 113 per cent over roughly 31 months.

He said 518 police personnel had been killed between January 2024 and the period covered by the figures he cited, arguing that the scale of the losses required a coordinated response from federal and provincial authorities.

The minister questioned the provincial government’s emphasis on its police budget, saying that allocating funds on paper did not necessarily mean the resources had reached personnel on the ground.

He said the federal government and provincial administration had differed over the figures relating to police funding and the practical availability of resources.

Naqvi argued that terrorism could not be defeated by one government or institution acting alone and required collective responsibility. He also questioned the need to debate whether an attacker should be classified as a terrorist when security personnel were being targeted.

He said the federal government had faced a choice between allowing the casualties to continue or taking action to change the situation.

Naqvi says emergency was not linked to politics

The interior minister rejected the suggestion that the decision was politically motivated, saying his ministry had sought the provincial government’s cooperation exclusively on counterterrorism.

He said he had deliberately avoided publicising several meetings with Afridi because the provincial leadership had expressed concerns that publicising the contacts could create problems for them.

Naqvi said the federal government had wanted to keep politics out of the security issue and bring the provincial government into a joint effort against militancy.

He maintained that an agreement on the proposed counterterrorism plan could have prevented the current situation, adding that the government had continued trying to reach an understanding until the previous night.

The minister also urged journalists to ask representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), whose delegations participated in the negotiations, about what he described as efforts to derail the process.

He said the federal leadership had made every possible effort to avoid the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, but had ultimately decided to proceed with the measures.

Naqvi raises concerns over foreign policy differences

Naqvi also argued that the federation and a provincial government could not pursue separate foreign policies.

He said differences between the federal government’s position and that of the provincial leadership had added to the concerns, maintaining that the country needed a consistent national approach to security and foreign affairs.

On the PTI long march, he said the PPP had argued during negotiations that the protest should be postponed if the parties were to pursue talks. He added that the federal government’s position had been that PTI was free to march towards Islamabad if it wished to do so.

Naqvi said the government had tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations rather than allow political differences to interfere with counterterrorism efforts.

He concluded by praying for the success of the armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel in the fight against terrorism, saying the country needed to work together in good faith to address the security challenge.

Attaullah Tarar accuses KP government of enabling militants

The information minister accused the former provincial administration of giving militants a free hand and alleged that its policies had allowed terrorist groups to gain influence in parts of the province.

He claimed the provincial government had not merely failed to prevent militant activity but had allowed militants to become stakeholders in the administration. He also alleged that some districts had effectively been left at the mercy of terrorist groups, which he accused of targeting civilians, mosques and hospitals and extorting money from residents.

Tarar described the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militant groups as being funded by foreign powers, alleging that their objective was to destabilise Pakistan.

These were allegations made by the minister; he did not present independently verifiable evidence during the remarks provided to substantiate each claim.

Questioning the provincial government’s handling of law and order, Tarar said public safety, security and the maintenance of law and order were among the primary responsibilities of a provincial administration.

He argued that the situation had reached the point where the federal government considered constitutional intervention necessary.

Questions police recruitment proposals

Tarar also criticised the provincial government over a controversial police bill, alleging that it sought to create opportunities for people linked to militant groups to enter the police force.

He questioned proposals for direct appointments of deputy superintendents of police without the involvement of the relevant public service recruitment mechanisms, claiming that the changes could undermine the integrity of the force.

The minister did not provide the text of the legislation or detailed evidence in the remarks supplied to establish that the proposed changes were intended to recruit militants or their supporters.

He also criticised the provincial cabinet’s performance, questioning what its ministers had achieved in health, education and home affairs. He alleged that the provincial leadership had devoted insufficient attention to governance and public welfare.