Quick Answer: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on his first visit to Peshawar since the October 11 imposition of governor’s rule and emergency, told a federal apex committee that the measures were imposed under “extreme compulsion”, blamed the PTI-led previous government for the security collapse, and alleged Rs100 billion was embezzled from a clean drinking water project.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday defended the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the decision had been taken “under extreme compulsion” amid the province’s worsening security situation. The premier made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the federal apex committee in Peshawar — his first visit to the province since the emergency measures were imposed on October 11.
First Visit Since October 11
The prime minister arrived in Peshawar earlier in the day to chair the apex committee meeting reviewing the security situation. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, federal ministers and newly appointed provincial advisers attended the meeting.
Addressing the participants, PM Shehbaz described Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a very beautiful province and expressed hope that the government would work to accelerate its development. “I hope we work hard day and night and speedily make progress towards development and prosperity,” he said.
“I promise that, with the cooperation of the field marshal, we will bring back happiness to this province,” the premier added, pledging that KP would receive development at par with other provinces.
“Criminal Negligence”: PM Blames PTI
Shehbaz lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the deteriorating security situation, saying the province had been a “cradle of peace” six years ago. He said peace had been restored across Pakistan, including KP, by 2017 and 2018 through sacrifices made by the armed forces, security institutions and civilians — and accused the PTI-led “dysfunctional government” of inviting terrorists back after peace had been established, undermining those sacrifices.
He said around 80,000 people had been martyred in the war against terrorism, which had also caused billions of dollars in economic losses, adding that the province’s people had paid the price while several political families had also suffered losses.
Neglect and Corruption Allegations
The prime minister alleged that the “previous” provincial government had neglected education, healthcare and public safety. He said 5,000 police vacancies had remained unfilled during its tenure, while the Safe City project was still incomplete. He also criticised the lack of attention given to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), police training and the provision of modern weapons and equipment to security personnel.
He said more than Rs800 billion had been provided to KP under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for counterterrorism efforts, recalling that the provinces had agreed under the 2010 NFC Award to provide additional resources to the province as the frontline in the fight against terrorism — and expressed regret that militancy had resurged despite the funding.
Shehbaz also levelled corruption allegations against the “previous” provincial government, claiming that Rs100 billion had been embezzled from a clean drinking water project and that corruption worth Rs37 billion had been uncovered in the Kohistan mega scandal. He further alleged that contracts under the placer gold project had been awarded to favoured individuals.
Advisory Council and Next Steps
Sharif announced that an advisory council comprising experts from various fields had been established to help address the province’s problems. He thanked allied parties for supporting the emergency decision, particularly President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, and pledged that the federal government would work with the military leadership to improve security and provide basic facilities to the people.
The prime minister also expressed grief over deaths caused by a school roof collapse in Peshawar, saying the people of KP had faced years of deprivation and deserved access to basic services. Describing the province as the land of “Rahman Baba” and “Khushal Khan Khattak”, he pledged to restore peace, happiness and development and turn the people’s aspirations for prosperity into reality.
Why It Matters
This was the federal government’s most forceful public defence yet of a highly controversial move. The October 11 imposition of emergency and governor’s rule suspended the PTI-led provincial administration and transferred executive authority to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi — a step the opposition has condemned. By travelling to Peshawar with the country’s top military leadership at his side and pairing the security message with specific corruption figures, Shehbaz is framing the intervention as both a security necessity and a governance cleanup.
What Happens Next
The advisory council’s work and the promised development push will now be watched closely, as will PTI’s response to the corruption allegations — none of which the party has yet answered in the reports so far. The emergency measures remain in force, and the apex committee is expected to keep reviewing counterterrorism operations in the province.
Key Takeaways
- PM Shehbaz Sharif made his first Peshawar visit since the October 11 imposition of governor’s rule and emergency, chairing a federal apex committee meeting.
- He said the emergency was imposed under “extreme compulsion” and vowed to restore peace with Field Marshal Asim Munir’s cooperation.
- He accused the PTI-led previous government of “criminal negligence” on security, saying a province that was a “cradle of peace” six years ago had slid back into militancy.
- He alleged Rs100 billion was embezzled from a clean drinking water project and Rs37 billion in the Kohistan scandal.
- An advisory council of experts was announced to help address the province’s problems.
FAQs
Why did PM Shehbaz visit Peshawar on October 22?
The prime minister travelled to Peshawar — his first visit since the October 11 imposition of governor’s rule and emergency — to chair a federal apex committee meeting reviewing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security situation, alongside Field Marshal Asim Munir and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
What did he say about the KP emergency?
He said the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been undertaken “under extreme compulsion” because of the deteriorating security situation, and promised to bring back peace and development to the province.
What corruption allegations did the PM make?
Shehbaz alleged that Rs100 billion had been embezzled from a clean drinking water project, that corruption worth Rs37 billion had been uncovered in the Kohistan mega scandal, and that placer gold project contracts were awarded to favoured individuals under the previous provincial government.
Who attended the apex committee meeting?
Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, federal ministers and newly appointed provincial advisers attended the meeting in Peshawar.
What did the PM say about police and security funding?
He said 5,000 police vacancies had remained unfilled under the previous government, the Safe City project was still incomplete, and the Counter-Terrorism Department had been neglected — despite more than Rs800 billion provided to KP under the NFC Award for counterterrorism.
What is the advisory council?
The prime minister announced an advisory council comprising experts from various fields to help address Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security, development and governance problems under the new administrative arrangement.
When was the emergency imposed in KP?
The federal government imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, suspending the PTI-led provincial administration and transferring executive authority to the governor.
Sources
- Geo News — “PM backs KP emergency rule, blasts PTI for ‘criminal negligence’ over worsening security” (Oct 22, 2026)
- Dawn — “PM vows to bring back progress to KP, assails PTI’s ‘callousness’ during its tenures” (Oct 22, 2026)
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By GlobalDeskNews Staff | October 22, 2026