Federal govt weighs final decision as cabinet reviews rising terrorism in KP

The federal cabinet will meet under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at 9.30am today to review the worsening law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rise in terrorist activity, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the cabinet meeting is expected to include a detailed assessment of the security situation in the province. Important decisions concerning Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) may also be considered during the session.

The cabinet meeting follows a high-level gathering at the President’s House in Islamabad on Saturday, where President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the country’s overall political and security situation.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and Federal Minister Ahad Cheema.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Sherry Rehman, Syed Naveed Qamar, Saleem Mandviwalla and Dr Asim Hussain also attended the meeting at the President’s House.

Sources said participants received a comprehensive briefing on the security situation and discussed recent developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They also considered available constitutional options and the possibility of talks with the opposition.

According to the sources, important decisions were taken during the meeting. The participants also agreed to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, October 13.

The federal cabinet is now expected to examine the security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and consider the imposition of the governor’s rule or emergency in the province as a hard government’s response.