PM to gather allies as tensions with PTI mount

AI Summary

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is consulting coalition partners and opposition figures amid planned protests, rising security concerns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and discussion of imposing emergency or governor’s rule there. The talks involve the PPP and other political leaders, while the PTI plans a march on Islamabad and Jamaat-i-Islami is pressing the government over the petroleum levy.

• Shehbaz to meet PPP leaders to discuss KP issues, protest threat • Sherry, Qamar meet PML-N leaders • Tariq Fazal says ‘emergency’ in KP under consideration due to ‘terrorism’ • Nayyar Bokhari urges talks, says Constitution provides remedies if govt fails to fulfil responsibilities ISLAMABAD: As political challenges mount for the PML-N government in light of multiple planned protests, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plans to hold extensive consultations with his allies to discuss the political and security situation, particularly in Khyber Pakht­unkhwa ruled by archrival PTI. A source in the Prime Minister’s House told Dawn that the PM was likely to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party was invited to a planned opposition multiparty moot. The premier is expected to discuss the imposition of the governor’s rule in KP, apparently due to a rise in terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on President Zardari recently in Karachi — a visit seen as quite significant against the backdrop of discussions on the governor’s rule in the PTI-ruled province. The PM had decided to take the president and the PPP into confidence after this meeting. Appearing on TV, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the PM was briefed on the current political situation soon after he arrived from the United States. “The PM was also apprised that the government reserved the right (to impose emergency) under the Constitution,” he said. Over the past week, the KP government had been warned that the Centre would have no other option but to impose the governor’s rule in the province in light of the security situation and the PTI’s protest call on Oct 4. The opposition party had warned the government of dire consequences if such a decision was imposed. However, a meeting between the PM and the National Assembly opposition lea­der, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, can also take place to defuse the crisis, since the PM had extended an invitation to the opposition leader to sit together for consultations on the issues of national impor­tance and those related to the PTI before leaving for the US. The PTI march on Isl­a­mabad would commence on Oct 4, and a meeting with the opposition would bear fruit for the government before this date. Similarly, PM Shehbaz is also expected to meet Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to discuss the petroleum levy. He had warned of resuming his march in the first week of October if the talks with the PM did not succeed. Ruling allies meet Meanwhile, a delegation-level meeting between the PML-N and the PPP took place on Wednesday in the chamber of the National Assembly speaker. PPP’s Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar met Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry to discuss KP’s fate. After the meeting, Law Minister Tarar told reporters at Parliament House that emergency was also discussed with the PPP members. “Imposition of the governor’s rule is a constitutional right which can be imposed when the situation requires it. In KP, people are martyred every day,” he added. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told media persons that imposition of emergency through Article 232 of the Constitution was under consideration due to terrorism in KP. “Emergency can be imposed not because of any political reason but due to increasing terrorism in the province,” he added. He claimed that the PPP would support all decisions of the government on security issues. Following the meeting, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and apparently discussed the legislation to be tabled in parliament, while also apprising the premier of the PPP’s stance on imposition of governor’s rule in KP. A source in the NA Secretariat told Dawn that the PPP and the government discussed four important bills to be presented in the forthcoming session of the National Assembly. They included Port Qasim Authority (Amendment) Bill, Gwadar Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, Karachi Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, and Life Insurance Nationalization (Amendment) Bill. The source said the PPP has agreed on three bills while one was rejected. Another source in the NA Secretariat said the bills were related to the directives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Earlier, PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari said that the party will offer its recommendations within the framework of the Constitution and law if it is asked to share an opinion on the governor’s rule, seemingly to control the PTI. In a statement, he said the Constitution provided a course of action if the provincial government failed to fulfil its constitutional and administrative responsibilities. “The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is extremely alarming,” Mr Bukhari said, adding that residents in various parts of the province, including the chief minister’s home district, were forced to remain indoors after sunset. Mr Bukhari said the PTI priorities appeared to be focus