Party walks a tightrope as govt eyes governor’s rule in PTI-ruled province, insiders say
Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi. Photo: File
LAHORE:
The PPP is facing growing pressure from the powerful to support the imposition of governorship rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but despite repeated overtures, the party remains reluctant to endorse an extreme and destabilizing measure, two senior party sources confirmed on Tuesday.
A party official, speaking to The Express PK Press Club, said that “some powers wanted the governor’s rules in KP to end the rule of the PTI in the province. For this, they want to use the shoulder of the PPP.”
He added that the proposal to “impose rules on governors” had been floated several times, but the party had not approved it.
According to him, the “change in public position of the PPP, taking into account the changed circumstances”, did not modify its “principled position of opposition to the adoption of extreme measures”.
He warned that such a move would be politically explosive for the region. “It would not be possible to run the province with the governor without pushing it further towards anarchy. The political dynamics are very different in KP.”
Another PPP member warned that any attempt to use the party as a conduit for the governor’s rule could backfire disastrously. He argued that “imposing gubernatorial rules, by any party, would be a mega mistake.”
Acknowledging the risks of distrust, he said that “resisting such suggestions from the powers that be has its consequences, but sometimes a line must be drawn.”
The source also expressed fears about the dangerous precedent such a move could set. “There is also a flipside to this decision, assuming that the PPP complies with the instructions of the Governor’s government, opens the cannon of worms, then who would stop the PML-N government from doing the same in Sindh, when such a need arises.”
“An urgent scenario and need can arise at any time in Pakistan,” he observed.
However, while reiterating the PPP’s principled position, he acknowledged that the party did not wish to fall out of favor with the establishment and therefore “will have to walk a tightrope”.
The discussion gained momentum a day earlier after two federal ministers hinted at the possibility of invoking the governor’s power in KP, citing deteriorating security conditions and governance failures.
Addressing the National Assembly, Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar said the governor’s rules did not constitute martial law, adding that it was a constitutional measure, while the Information Minister said such action was only spoken of when things continued to spiral out of control.
Historically, Centra has used the threat of a governor’s rule to put pressure on the KP government whenever tensions escalate. Although the province has experienced governor’s rule twice, first when assemblies were dissolved and then when governments were ousted, the parties’ calculations this time seem markedly different.
Other political actors have also distanced themselves from this idea. JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, when asked about this, remarked that “those who have to impose the governor’s rule should answer this question.”
Similarly, ANP leader Aimal Wali Khan also “opposed the imposition of the governor’s rule, despite his vocal opposition to the PTI.”
