October 15, 2026
By Hashir Ahsan
ISLAMABAD
In a joint session of Parliament, documents related to the Emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were presented, according to Article 232, Clause 7, with the parliament passing the rule for two months amid protests by the Opposition.
The session was headed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, with Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani and a large number of government and opposition members participating. The Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry presented the presidential announcement regarding the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in the joint session.
The Speaker highlighted the heartbreaking incident of a school roof collapse that occurred in Peshawar in which over 33 children and teachers lost their lives. Prayers were offered for the children martyred in the Peshawar school incident, and Fateha was offered for the children.
Meanwhile a motion was presented by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, to suspend rules for the ratification of the Emergency and Governor’s Rule. The Speaker directed the members to count in favor of and against the resolution. While 214 members supported the resolution for the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 56 members opposed the resolution. Opposition members participated in the session wearing black armbands on their arms, challenging the count. They also chanted slogans in the house.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the session was called to fulfill a constitutional requirement, while this issue had already been discussed in the Senate and the National Assembly. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that things should at least not be misquoted, and said that both the houses had approved the move.
An All Parties Conference was held in Islamabad in which the PTI was present. He said that a National Action Plan had been made which was revised during the PTI government. This nation made a decision unitedly, and Zarb-e-Azb was fought.
“Who opened the border and allowed TTP people to enter Pakistan?” he asked. “TTP was welcomed. If we do not deal with them even now, when will we?”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, “We made every effort to take the provincial government on board so that we could fight side by side. We faced a lot of difficulties regarding the Apex Committee. It was to be written in the press release of the Apex Committee that we will jointly counter terrorism; please read the issued press release once to see what was written.” He stated that all people from PTI talked about this in the negotiation committee.
National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, addressing the joint session, said that the circumstances our country is trapped in—I say with God as my witness—are the result of our internal flaws. The Constitution was made with great difficulty after the breakup of Pakistan. Pakistan also broke due to our ego. It is famous regarding Iskandar Mirza that he is the grandson of the person who betrayed Siraj-ud-Daula.
He stated that you imposed Governor’s Rule, and you also jumped into it. In the rules and regulations, just like us, there are limits for you too. You were sitting here while institutions wearing your uniforms picked up 8 members. Negotiations will be on the point that Parliament will be the fountainhead of power, provinces will have rights over their resources. Sit down, we are ready for unconditional negotiations.
He said that we will stop these hands, and we will form a front of democratic parties. Eleven or twelve people were shot; is protesting a crime? People reacted, and you will not find a place to hide. Did people give birth to children so you could shoot them? Our Chief Minister and MPAs were kidnapped; you are kidnappers, you are terrorists.
Mehmood Achakzai said that you swallowed the February elections; take an oath if you won. Which terrorism are you talking about? You made a frontline state in the Soviet Union. You trained terrorists, 6,000 terrorists were sent there. Is Suhail Afridi responsible for this? Terrorism was brought by you; Suhail Afridi was a child at that time.
The Opposition Leader said that the world used to say the world’s most dangerous terrorist is with you, while we were in denial. Two helicopters came and destroyed our sovereignty. A 20-foot wall was erected on the border of Afghanistan; where do terrorists fly in from? The Taliban are your creation.
Senator Sherry Rehman
Senator Sherry Rehman, expressing her views, said Achakzai Sahib, do not talk about Martial Law; ask us what happens in Martial Law. During your government, TTP fighters were released. Benazir’s martyrdom was not given so that there could be separate governments day and night. Your leadership did not come into negotiations.
She stated that Asad Qaiser and Barrister Gohar said they are with you against terrorism. Accepting three out of five demands was your victory. Your leadership pulled the rug from under your feet. Your leadership talked about a long march.
She said who is afraid of a long march? Long marches came and went. Dictation was coming from another country, and we were also hearing the voice. Talks about treatment and legal access had been done with you.
Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas
Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said that the constitution is a social contract and interpreter between the federation and the units. Depriving the elected representatives of the people of power is a grave violation of the constitution. The system collapsed due to this very reason, and the mother and root of every disease is the elections of February 8.
He said that Benazir Bhutto was martyred; why were investigations conducted from abroad? Did you not have confidence in your institutions? Illegal work is happening right in front of everyone. Not allowing meetings with the founding chairman of PTI is illegal. Is a long march against the constitution and law? For God’s sake, do not turn Pakistan into a graveyard.
Federal Minister Amir Muqam
Federal Minister Amir Muqam, expressing his views in the joint session, said that we called day, day, and night, night. In 2014, the APS incident happened, which brought the entire public onto one page. Everyone agreed on the National Action Plan, and it was implemented. Barrister Saif was a minister and went to Afghanistan to make agreements; then unrest started. People cannot even attend funerals.
He stated that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have rejected you. You talk big things. I also thank the good people of PTI.
Prime Minister’s Meeting with Mehmood Khan Achakzai
During the session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to the opposition leader’s seat and met him in the house.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood and talked in hushed tones with Mehmood Khan Achakzai for a while. After the Prime Minister left the house, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif met Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Khawaja Asif whispered into each other’s ears. Additionally, ANP head Aimal Wali Khan met PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the National Assembly hall.
Aimal Wali Khan added Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s number on his mobile phone. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Aimal Wali Khan talked to each other for a while.
Barrister Gohar
Barrister Gohar expressed in his speech that we were accused of patronizing terrorism. I reject this accusation. Decide whether we are patronizing terrorists. Prime Minister Sahib, you have given us a wound; we curse such statements. This statement will have effects at the international level.
He said that the Pakistan Army is ours, our living and dying is in Pakistan. You have put the federation at stake. We condemn terrorism in all its forms. Just because of one meeting, you ended the entire government. If we are patronizing terrorism, then hang us.
He stated that if we do not belong to this country, then tell us today. Our generations will force you to apologize. We can be everything, but we cannot patronize terrorism. The sooner you take back the allegation, the better. We reject your emergency, Governor’s Rule, and calling the army. We will make that Pakistan in which you will be treated.
Aimal Wali Khan
Aimal Wali Khan said that terrorism, PTI, Governor’s Rule, and emergency are separate subjects. Going too far in opposition to someone and supporting them somewhere is unacceptable. I want to ask a few questions to this state. Hakimullah Mehsud announced a party to be acceptable; then the same party came into power.
He stated that we are not accusing you of terrorism, but how did the PTI government come? Your leader has been a very big lawyer for terrorists. Were you advocating for the Taliban or not? It was said to bring the Taliban into the mainstream. Were terrorists running a campaign for you or not? For five years, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was used for the fight of the throne of Lahore. Was not the resettlement of the Taliban talked about?
Aimal Wali said when will the real decision-makers be held accountable? If the provincial government ended over terrorism, the federal government should also end.
JUI Senator Kamran Murtaza Advocate’s Speech
JUI Senator Kamran Murtaza Advocate said that JUI had asked for documents regarding terrorism allegations, but they were not provided. We had submitted a resolution to reject the emergency and Governor’s Rule, but that was also not brought forward. The President had to write about the President’s satisfaction regarding the emergency and Governor’s Rule, but he has not written about satisfaction. Article 234 states that if the President is satisfied on the report of the governor of a province, he can impose emergency. The satisfaction thing is not written in the President’s report.
He said that the President did not apply his mind to the summary. Tell us where that Governor’s Rule summary is. Is this summary in someone’s pocket? Today it is their turn, tomorrow it will be the turn of those sitting in the front rows. If there is no government writ in the province, is there their writ in the Kacha area? Like good Taliban and bad Taliban, there is also good PTI and bad PTI.
He stated that if Governor’s Rule was not to be imposed, they should have given government to good PTI itself. I know that they were also going to take away the powers of the Peshawar High Court. I know they want to take the power to strip fundamental human rights. One person played a role and saved fundamental human rights. One person saved the powers of the Peshawar High Court. The solution to the country’s problems lies in an independent Election Commissioner.
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf
Former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the topic of today was discussed in great detail. Our attitudes matter a lot. When negotiations started, very good news was coming. Suddenly the negotiations could not bear fruit. We all must have made mistakes. Barrister Gohar said we will come and treat you. Politicians should negotiate.
The country should also benefit from popularity.He stated that one person said we will attack the Somnath of Islamabad; then what do you want, which system should be devised? When we did a long march, not a single flowerpot broke. We are all Pakistanis, we will protect Pakistanis. Who are they who ridicule the armed forces of Pakistan? We have to end hatreds.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said if this country exists, we all exist. We could not meet Asif Ali Zardari for six years. Meetings were not held with Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. We even endured lashes. Sit them down and the government as well. Governor’s Rule can also be reversed; for that, change attitudes. If your Chief Minister comes at government expense and wants to shut down the country, then you cannot be supported.
PTI Senator Ali Zafar
PTI Senator Ali Zafar said that Article 234 clearly states that a report will come from the governor to the president. The president will get satisfaction on the report sent by the governor. Tell us which report came and what satisfaction was obtained. Stopping terrorism is the work of the federation under Article 148. Now terrorism has also been happening in the federation, so should Governor’s Rule be imposed on the federation as well?
He stated that if failing in law and order is enough, then why is Governor’s Rule not imposed in Balochistan? In Balochistan, the provincial government has completely failed.
During Senator Ali Zafar’s speech, PML-N Senator Abid Sher Ali made a ruckus. Senator Ali Zafar said that on their ruckus, I can only say, “The thief makes a noise.” Your law minister made a mistake, so now things won’t work out with such noise.
Abid Sher Ali stood up at his seat and said the thief is lying in jail. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif made Abid Sher Ali quiet. Senator Ali Zafar challenged that the government should just show the report on which the provincial government was ended.
During the approval of the resolution, the opposition started a protest. Opposition members tore up copies of the resolution. The joint session of Parliament was adjourned indefinitely.
Opposition members gathered in front of the speaker’s dais. Mohsin Naqvi reached out to the protesting opposition members and spoke with Barrister Gohar and Ali Muhammad Khan.