Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said on Wednesday that if the prime minister and the president deemed it necessary to impose an emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to “save the province” facing terrorism, it would “definitely be enforced”.

The governor’s remarks came during Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, where the possibility of emergency or governor’s rule was discussed.

Responding to questions on the subject, Kundi argued that there had been past instances of emergency and governor’s rule being imposed.

“In Balochistan, the PPP had to end its government for law and order and impose an emergency,” he remarked.

Asked whether an emergency or governor’s rule would be sustainable if imposed, Kundi replied: “The first thing [to decide] is when and whether it is imposed. We can discuss its sustainability in another programme.”

This prompted the host to prod Kundi further, saying his remarks indicated that only imposing an emergency or governor’s rule was being considered and its sustainability would addressed later.

Kundi said in response, “We have to save the province, we have to establish peace in the province.”

The Centre has warned the PTI-led KP government in recent days of sending it packing through an emergency or governor’s rule as the party goes ahead with a protest march to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. Federal ministers have also cited the security situation in KP in this connection, as reiterated by Kundi.

Meanwhile, the march remains a major bone of contention between the government and the main opposition party in the Centre, the PTI, with both taking entrenched positions.

On Sunday, Interior Mini­ster Mohsin Naqvi also called on Kundi to discuss the political and security situation amid speculations of ‘imminent’ governor’s rule in the province.

The meeting was also mentioned in the Geo News programme, with Kundi being asked whether preparations were under way for an emergency or governor’s rule. But Kundi said the PTI’s long march and security-related matters were discussed during the meeting.

The KP governor then went on the accuse the provincial government of “facilitating terrorism” and not doing enough to curb it.