THIS is with reference to the report “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in governor’s hands after Centre slaps emergency” (Oct 12). The government had repeatedly urged the main opposition party to call off its long march and resolve the issues through dialogue. Either the government was merely buying time by repeatedly talking about talks, or the opposition party was putting forward unrealistic demands. Saner minds had been on tenterhooks for some time.

During recent rounds of talks, the party had reportedly demanded that the issue of terrorism be addressed through ‘other means’ instead of kinetic action. History, however, shows that terrorists have often used negotiations to regroup, re-arm and resume their activities with even greater ferocity. Terrorism can only be effectively eliminated through a national consensus and coordinated action by federal and provincial governments. Terrorism is a direct threat to national security, economic stability and the country’s future.

The opposition party appeared to be focusing primarily on the health and legal predicament of its leader and his spouse, both of whom have been languishing in prison after being convicted of corruption. In doing so, the party largely overlooked the plight of hundreds of its leaders and workers who are also in prisons. By insisting on the long march, the party was ignoring the economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens. If it was genuinely committed to the welfare of the people, it should have made economic relief for the vast majority of have-nots a central part of its agenda rather than focusing almost exclusively on the interests of its imprisoned leader. To demonstrate its sincerity towards the state and the people, the party should have unequivocally ruled out any possibility of negotiations with terrorists, and demonstrated a firm commitment to joining hands with the federal government to eliminate terrorism.

On its part, Islamabad could have demonstrated that it was serious about dialogue by engaging in meaningful, result-oriented negotiations rather than using the talks merely for buying time. The government should have stopped talking for the sake of talks, while the opposition should have stopped marching for the sake of a march. Neither behaved the way they should have, and the nation now has to pay the price of political rigidity with another round of prolonged uncertainty.

Gulsher Panhwer
Johi

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026