Pakistan declares state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Oct 12, 8:53 AM1 min readCovered by 5 outlets

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

AI Summary

Pakistan's federal government has suspended the provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing security failures as opposition protests demand the release of Imran Khan.

President Asif Ali Zardari declared emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, suspending the provincial government led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party.

The federal government justified the suspension by citing a severe breakdown in law and order and the provincial administration's alleged failure to combat Islamist militancy near the Afghan border. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that a provincial governor would take charge for at least six months. The interior ministry is also deploying troops to the region, according to The Guardian.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which led the regional government, described the move as a "coup disguised as emergency." PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari told The Guardian the takeover was intended to stop planned protests and risked inciting more bloodshed. The party has denied claims that it failed to curb militants, instead accusing Islamabad of withholding the necessary funding and equipment to fight violence.

The emergency follows a week of high tension after PTI supporters began marching from the province to Islamabad to demand Khan's release. Deutsche Welle reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed the move to confront security threats. Reuters reported that movement restrictions have been placed on Sohail Afridi, identified by an aide as someone who was previously in charge of the province.

Opposition figures have condemned the federal intervention, with JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman calling it an "ambush on democracy." In the capital, tens of thousands of security forces have been deployed and shipping containers have been used to block roads to prevent protesters from reaching the city.

Background

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 on various charges, including corruption and treason, which his followers claim are politically motivated. His supporters also allege that the 2024 election was rigged, a claim the federal government denies.