Pakistan’s president has approved emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, effectively suspending the provincial government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan.
Federal government cites security concerns
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal cabinet’s recommendation on Sunday, October 11. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the step followed what it described as the provincial government’s disengagement from counterterrorism efforts and a worsening security situation.
Under the arrangement announced by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the governor will assume responsibility for provincial administration with support from an advisory council. Officials said the initial arrangement would run for six months. The government has also said the constitutional measures were taken under Articles 232 and 234.
Political dispute over the move
The federal government argues that the province has not adequately supported efforts against armed groups. PTI leaders, however, have rejected the action and described it as an attack on the party’s elected authority. The move heightens a standoff between Islamabad and the PTI-led administration.
The decision came as PTI supporters were preparing a march to Islamabad to demand Khan’s release. Khan has been in prison since 2023 and denies the charges against him, which his party says are politically motivated.
Emergency and governor’s rule place provincial authority in federal hands, making the decision a major shift in Pakistan’s political balance. Its implementation and the response from the provincial assembly and courts are likely to shape the next stage of the dispute.
