PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has implemented emergency measures along with governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following approval from President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday. This move effectively removes the provincial administration led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from control of government operations. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which recommended the action. The government justified the step citing concerns over security and disagreements over counterterrorism coordination. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sharing borders with Afghanistan, has experienced 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 when a provincial government is unable to function in accordance with the Constitution. Under governor’s rule, the authority of the provincial executive shifts to the governor as per constitutional provisions. Additionally, Parliament can exercise powers usually held by the provincial assembly. Courts, however, remain outside the scope of these transferred powers.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed control of the province with backing from an 11-member advisory council. The council convened its first session after the emergency measures took effect. Members have been assigned portfolios that include home affairs, law, finance, industry, health, and education. The federal government also appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief secretary. Kundi appealed to residents to abide by the law and avoid violence or rioting during this political transition.
Deployment of Army Forces Authorized Under Article 245
Pakistan’s federal authorities have also authorized army troops and military resources to assist civilian officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Interior Ministry issued this directive under Article 245 of the Constitution. The deployment aims to safeguard lives, property, and government facilities during the state of emergency. Kundi will coordinate troop and resource requirements with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters. Additionally, police and security personnel have increased their presence around key government sites in Peshawar.
This emergency situation follows months of tension between the federal government and PTI over security policies and political issues. Negotiations between both sides broke down in early October. Supporters of PTI then organized a protest march demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been detained since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases. PTI rejects the charges against him and has condemned the federal intervention.
PTI Condemns Federal Action and Opposes Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
PTI leaders strongly criticized the emergency declaration and the imposition of governor’s rule, asserting that these measures undermine the province’s elected authority. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not lead to peace. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also denounced the removal of the provincial administration. Prior to the decision, then-Chief Minister Sohail Afridi publicly opposed any form of emergency or governor’s rule. PTI has also challenged federal criticism of its counterterrorism strategies, claiming it was not sufficiently involved in security decisions.
The federal government claims that the move was approved by the cabinet, based on the prime minister’s advice and security reports. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting led by Sharif. Authorities have linked the intervention to ongoing security concerns and the collapse of negotiations with PTI. The army’s deployment remains tied to the state of emergency and governor’s rule declaration. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council tasked with managing provincial affairs.