ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday warned that the federal government has the constitutional authority to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while dismissing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protest as “doomed to fail”.
Speaking to a local news channel, Sanaullah expressed concern over the PTI’s confrontational approach, cautioning that continued defiance by the party’s founder could lead to serious consequences.
He welcomed the recent press conference by Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), terming his remarks clear, timely and significant.
Sanaullah said the government had acted responsibly by offering dialogue to the PTI on three occasions on the floor of the National Assembly through the prime minister, but the party failed to respond. Despite this, he added, the PTI has once again announced a protest, which he said was unlikely to succeed.
Criticising the PTI leadership, he said the party continues to pursue politics through street agitation and unrest and strongly condemned the May 9 incidents, describing them as acts of violence and anarchy that would not be tolerated.
Commenting on the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sanaullah accused the PTI-led provincial government of obstructing counter-terrorism efforts, alleging that its actions reflected alignment with hostile narratives rather than cooperation with the state.
He said the federal government was fully cognisant of the situation and had constitutional options available, including the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.
When asked specifically about the possibility of governor’s rule in KP, Sanaullah said the option remained on the table and would be exercised if the PTI continued to challenge the authority of the state. He reiterated that any further protest or street agitation by the party would be futile.
The adviser criticised the KP government’s conduct as irresponsible, saying its position on key national issues remained unclear and unacceptable. He added that the PTI’s attitude was unjustifiable and that the nation expected accountability and clear answers from the party.
Sanaullah also pointed out that a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had yet to be established in the province, terming it a failure to prioritise security and development.
He said terrorist and criminal activities continued unchecked in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing the provincial government of failing to take effective measures to address the situation.
Warning of serious consequences, Sanaullah said if the current approach persisted, the federal government could impose governor’s rule in the province in accordance with the Constitution.
