Pakistan’s federal authorities declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, invoking constitutional provisions related to security matters. The emergency declaration effectively suspends the provincial government controlled by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the political party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned. President Asif Ali Zardari approved the measure following a cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day.
The cabinet’s decision cited concerns about the provincial administration’s handling of counterterrorism efforts. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, cabinet members determined that the provincial government had engaged in “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.” While Pakistan’s constitution permits the federal government to assume some or all provincial functions during emergencies, authorities did not immediately clarify the specific administrative arrangements that would govern the province moving forward.
Following the announcement, reports emerged that provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the PTI’s provincial president were arrested. The emergency declaration arrives amid preparations by the PTI for a major demonstration in Islamabad demanding Khan’s release. The protest march, originally scheduled for September 27, was postponed to October 4 to facilitate discussions between government and PTI representatives. Federal authorities have indicated they will not permit the march to reach the capital and have erected shipping container barriers at main entry points to Islamabad.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari characterized the emergency measure as counterproductive, arguing it would generate “further bloodshed, instability and collateral damage.” Bukhari suggested the government had abandoned negotiations, noting that while dialogue remained theoretically possible, the new action demonstrated an unwillingness to pursue talks genuinely.
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