Karachi: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday called for a written agreement between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to coordinate their response to terrorism.

Speaking at the inauguration of a water treatment plant in Karachi, Bilawal said political differences should be kept separate from security matters and called for cooperation between the Centre and provinces.

He said the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could have consequences for other parts of the country if it deteriorated further.

Bilawal said the federal government had considered constitutional options, including an emergency or governor’s rule in KP, but the PPP had urged it to pursue dialogue before taking such measures.

He said the party had proposed talks with PTI amid tensions over its planned march towards Islamabad. PTI had postponed the start of the march from September 27 to October 4.

The PPP chairman said political parties had a right to protest but called on PTI to resolve its differences with the government through negotiations.

Bilawal also criticised the KP government’s security handling, saying it needed to give greater priority to counterterrorism efforts. He said a lack of cooperation between the provincial and federal governments could eventually lead to consideration of constitutional measures.

He called for a formal agreement setting out how the Centre and KP would work together against terrorism while addressing political disputes separately.

Bilawal said the PPP wanted negotiations between the government and opposition parties to succeed, arguing that political stability would allow the authorities to focus on security and governance.