The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution endorsing the federal government’s imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
asserted
Assembly → pass → Pakhtunkhwa
The Centre had imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Sunday, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism.
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Centre → impose → terrorism
The NA question hour session was suspended due to discussions on the emergency.
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session → suspend → emergency
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled a motion regarding the proclamation of emergency, which was adopted with a majority vote following a discussion opened by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.
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which → table → Tarar
Throughout the proceedings, opposition members participated calmly and did not stage any loud protest, unlike past instances of ruckus when PTI objects to the Centre.
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PTI → participate → Centre
During the session, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari blamed the PTI’s KP government for the circumstances that led to the imposition of emergency in the province, terming it a “political suicide attack”.
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that → blame → it
Bilawal began his speech by highlighting that emergency and governor’s rule in KP were measures taken under the Constitution.
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emergency → begin → Constitution
Reading the relevant provisions, Bilawal asserted that the Centre tried its best to “engage the opposition so this step did not have to be taken”.
“They will have to accept, even if not publicly, but the responsible leadership of the opposition knows that the PTI itself carried out a political suicide attack on its KP government,” he remarked.
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he → read → government
The PPP chief maintained that the PTI could not deny that its “leadership, particularly in the province had a key role in the political, constitutional and legal circumstances” at present.
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leadership → maintain → circumstances
Bilawal emphasised that the PPP’s stance was that “before employing this constitutional atomic bomb, we must engage with PTI and the opposition and try to address the federal government’s reservations that they were not supporting them in the war against terrorism”.
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they → emphasise → terrorism
He observed: “If political space is restricted for one political party, it is impossible that it remains restricted for that particular party; it is limited for every political party, political worker and Pakistani citizen.
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it → observe → party
“We are responsible for this, but you cannot deny that you are also responsible for it,” he said.
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he → deny → it
Terming the imposition of emergency a “difficult decision”, Bilawal recalled alleged remarks by Sohail Afridi — the KP chief minister whose role is now non-functional — that he would not combat terrorism the way the Centre wanted.
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Centre → term → terrorism
The Bhutto scion wondered if the opposition and Afridi had left any reason for President Asif Ali Zardari, who he said prides himself on passing the 18th Amendment, to “refuse to sign” the emergency proclamation.
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he → wonder → proclamation
He argued that due to the PTI’s actions and statements, neither the president, the Centre, nor he had any legal or political reason left for not imposing emergency in KP.
“But even today, I would recommend to the federal government that we extend our hand forward once again for negotiations, political discussions and try to find a resolution and a middle path,” Bilawal added.
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Bilawal → argue → resolution
The PPP chairman noted that emergency was “always a stopgap measure”.
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emergency → note → ?
“We cannot sustain the emergency forever,” he added, emphasising that while the counterterrorism fight would be better than before, an “all-of-society and all-of-country response” was needed to eradicate it completely.
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response → sustain → it
Regarding the Oct 3 talks of a joint delegation of the PPP and the government with the opposition, Bilawal said, “Late at night, I was informed that congratulations, negotiations are succeeding.”
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negotiations → regard → night
He said the PTI was willing to declare the areas in KP with surging terrorism as “terrorist areas”, and the opposition was about to agree that the federal and KP governments would sign a pact on joint efforts against terrorism.
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governments → say → terrorism
However, the dialogue collapsed.
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dialogue → collapse → ?
The former foreign minister pointed out that the security challenges Pakistan was facing were “way more complicated” than before, adding that India “could still not digest […] its embarrassment” from the May 2025 conflict.
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India → point → conflict
Referring to remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that its ‘Operation Sindoor’ was still ongoing, Bilawal said: “It means that India is still sponsoring terrorist incidents in Pakistan, sometimes in the form of TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and sometimes in the form of separatist terrorist groups.”
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India → refer → groups
He reiterated Pakistan’s stance that India was involved in terrorist activities being conducted from across the Afghan border.
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India → reiterate → border
The ex-foreign minister then highlighted Islamabad’s role as a mediator in the US-Iran war.
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minister → highlight → war
“But there is a state — which we do not recognise as a state — that will neither be happy nor ever forget that you took this step.
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you → be → step
And those Zionist forces will and are interfering in Pakistan’s internal politics and state.”
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forces → interfere → politics
Concluding his speech, the PPP chairman emphasised the need for building consensus on “some fundamental issues” for an empowered lower house.
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chairman → conclude → house
“Even today, we are saying, come and at least begin from this house,” he said while addressing the opposition benches.
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he → say → benches
At one point during the proceedings, the NA speaker noted that the Oct 3 dialogue was held in a cordial atmosphere, praising both sides for “attempting more than their capacity that the matter is settled”.
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matter → note → capacity
However, he said some matters were beyond the parties’ control and voiced his support for forming the same committees for negotiations if ever needed in the future.
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matters → say → future
Gohar demands implementation of NAP
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Gohar → demand → NAP
Speaking on the NA floor, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan’s said his party “rejected” the Centre’s move to impose emergency in KP.
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party → speak → KP
He asked what “terrorism” Imran’s wife or sisters had allegedly been involved in that they had been put behind bars, or what the accusations were against the PTI MNAs and MPAs who he said were detained.
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he → ask → MNAs
Gohar further said, “One person is not present in the house currently.
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person → say → house
When he comes during a joint session, then I will reveal the reality of the negotiations.”
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I → come → negotiations
He affirmed that the PTI had raised its voice against terrorism, adding that measures against the scourge must be taken according to the National Action Plan (NAP).
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measures → affirm → Plan
Responding to Gohar’s remarks, Bilawal said the PTI was busy in its long march while the people of KP were being targeted by terrorists.
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people → respond → terrorists
Bilawal reiterated that the opposition could keep arguing against the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, but no one could deny that the decision was grounded in the Constitution.
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decision → reiterate → Constitution
“I cannot insist on the government to continue talks with PTI despite being defrauded multiple times,” the PPP chairman said.
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chairman → insist → PTI
Pointing towards Gohar and NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Bilawal said: “I believe that none of them is allied with terrorists.
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none → point → terrorists
…and 53 more, not listed.
The Aporia
