Bilawal says Maulana Fazl can end KP governor's rule

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari stated on Sunday that governor’s rule and emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could end if opposition parties engage with the federal government on a joint counterterrorism strategy. The remarks followed a week of political debate after the Centre suspended the provincial setup.

The federal government invoked emergency powers on October 11, 2026, after President Asif Ali Zardari approved a summary submitted on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. Speaking in Karachi while visiting the Karsaz Monument on the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari outlined the conditions under which Islamabad might roll back the suspension.

Political Conditions and the Demand for a Joint Counterterrorism Strategy

According to the PPP chairman, the emergency framework is not immutable. He urged opposition groups to participate in parliamentary dialogue and formulate a unified national policy against militant groups.

KP Governor’s Rule | Bilawal Bhutto’s Blunt Message to Maulana Fazlur Rehman | Capital TV

If they really want to fight terrorists, and if they want that emergency and governor’s rule in KP to end, they should engage with the federal government and politicians and discuss a united policy regarding the fight against terrorism.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairperson, via Dawn

The PPP leadership maintained that while introducing governor’s rule was a legal option under the Constitution, it remained a measure of last resort. Bilawal previously described the breakdown in provincial governance as a political suicide attack brought on by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf administration’s failure to cooperate with federal security initiatives. He noted that counterterrorism efforts are most effective when the government, political parties, security institutions, and the public work together, pointing to past consensus under former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Bilawal also criticized the previous government for allowing members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan to return from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban takeover of Kabul, and for the release of imprisoned militants, which he argued worsened security challenges in areas like Khyber and Khuzdar.

Friction Over Security and Leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Tensions between Islamabad and the provincial administration centered on operational disagreements regarding counterterrorism efforts. Bilawal criticized the posture of the provincial leadership, noting that Sohail Afridi, the non-functional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, had been unwilling to confront militants alongside the federal apparatus. PPP leaders pointed out that the chief minister reportedly told the public he would not support federal anti-terrorism efforts.

Bilawal blames PTI for KP emergency, calls it a ‘political suicide attack’ — Photo: | Associated Press Of Pakistan

Federal officials have defended the intervention by pointing to deteriorating security indicators across the region. Meanwhile, Kundi serves as the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, representing the federal government in the province.

The Role of Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Building Political Consensus

To bridge the gap between the ruling coalition and opposition factions, Bilawal suggested that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman could facilitate negotiations. Fazl recently held consultations in Islamabad with parliamentary opposition leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, in the National Assembly opposition chamber alongside Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan spokesperson Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai to discuss the constitutional implications of the KP emergency.

Maulana Fazl can play role in ending terrorism, enforcing governor's rule in KP: Bilawal https://t.co/2RoBhE0kJo

— https://x.com/MurtazaViews/status/2111805930518249513

While the opposition continues to contest the suspension of the elected assembly, federal representatives argue that political reconciliation remains essential to addressing the ongoing economic crisis and security threats facing the country.