PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has declared emergency measures and imposed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal recommendations on Sunday. This move removes the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial administration from control of government functions. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing security concerns and disagreements over counterterrorism coordination. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sharing borders with Afghanistan, has experienced multiple militant attacks.
The actions are based on Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 232 pertains to emergency powers related to serious threats to national or regional security, while Article 234 permits federal intervention when a provincial government cannot operate in line with the Constitution. Under the governor’s rule, the provincial executive authority is transferred to the governor under the constitutional framework. Parliament may also exercise powers typically held by the provincial assembly. Courts, however, remain outside these transferred authorities.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed control of the province with backing from an 11-member advisory council. The council convened its first meeting after the emergency measures came into effect, with members assigned portfolios in areas such as home affairs, law, finance, industry, health, and education. Additionally, the federal government appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief secretary. Kundi called on residents to abide by the law and avoid violence or protests during this political transition.
Deployment of Army Troops Authorized Under Article 245
The federal government of Pakistan has also authorized military personnel and assets to assist civilian authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the authority of Article 245 of the Constitution. This deployment aims to safeguard lives, property, and government installations during the emergency period. Kundi will work with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters to assess troop and asset requirements. Security personnel, including police, have also increased their presence around critical government sites in Peshawar.
This emergency follows months of tension between the federal authorities and PTI regarding security policies and political demands. Negotiations broke down in early October, after which PTI supporters organized a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been in detention since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases. PTI opposes the charges and has condemned the federal intervention.
PTI Condemns Federal Action in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Leaders of PTI criticized the emergency and governor’s rule, arguing that these measures undermine the province’s elected authority. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not bring peace. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also voiced opposition to 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 efforts, asserting it lacked sufficient involvement in security decisions.
The federal government maintains that the decision was made following cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and reports on law and order. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting chaired by Sharif. Authorities link the intervention to security issues and the breakdown of talks with PTI. The army deployment remains connected to the declaration of emergency and governor’s rule. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council formed to oversee provincial affairs.