PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has declared emergency measures and imposed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following approval from President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday. This decision removes the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government from control of administrative functions. The federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recommended the move during a meeting. The government cited concerns over security and disagreements on counterterrorism coordination. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sharing a border with Afghanistan, has faced multiple militant attacks.
The measures are based on Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 232 authorizes emergency powers in response to serious threats to national or regional security. Article 234 permits federal intervention if a provincial government cannot operate as per the Constitution. Under governor’s rule, authority shifts to the governor as per constitutional provisions. Parliament can also assume powers normally held by the provincial assembly. Courts are not included in these transferred powers.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has taken charge of the province, supported by an 11-member advisory council. The council convened its first meeting after the emergency was implemented. Members received portfolios covering home affairs, law, finance, industry, health, and education. The federal government also appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief secretary. Kundi urged residents to abide by the law and avoid violence or riots during this political change.
Army deployment authorized under Article 245
The federal government authorized military troops and assets to support civilian authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Interior Ministry issued the order under Article 245 of the Constitution. This deployment aims to protect lives, property, and government installations during the emergency. Kundi will decide troop and resource needs in consultation with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters. Police and security forces have increased their presence at key government sites in Peshawar.
The emergency follows months of tension between the federal government and PTI over security policies and political demands. Negotiations between the two sides broke down in early October. PTI supporters then organized a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been in prison since August 2023, facing several criminal cases. PTI rejects the cases and condemns the federal intervention.
PTI opposes federal takeover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
PTI leaders denounced the emergency and governor’s rule. They argued that these measures undermine the province’s elected authority. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan said weakening provincial autonomy would not bring peace. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also criticized the removal of the provincial administration. Before the decision, then-Chief Minister Sohail Afridi publicly opposed any form of emergency or governor’s rule. PTI also disputes federal criticism of its counterterrorism efforts, claiming it was not sufficiently involved in security decisions.
The federal government states that the action followed cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and law and order reports. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting led by Sharif. Authorities linked the move to security concerns and the failure of negotiations with PTI. The army’s authorization is tied to the emergency and governor’s rule declaration. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be governed by Governor Kundi and the advisory council established to oversee provincial affairs.