PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has declared a state of emergency and imposed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after President Asif Ali Zardari approved federal recommendations on Sunday. This move effectively removes the provincial government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from managing state functions. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which recommended the action. The government cited ongoing security concerns and disagreements over counterterrorism efforts as reasons. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shares a border with Afghanistan and has experienced multiple militant attacks.
The constitutional basis for these measures is rooted in Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 232 pertains to emergency powers in response to significant threats to national or regional security. Meanwhile, Article 234 permits federal intervention if a provincial government is unable to function in line with constitutional provisions. Under governor’s rule, the authority of the provincial executive shifts to the governor as outlined by the constitution. Parliament may also assume powers normally exercised by the provincial assembly. Courts are excluded from 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 following the implementation of the emergency measures. Members received portfolios covering 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 military forces authorized under Article 245
The federal authorities also authorized the deployment of army personnel and military resources to assist civilian authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Interior Ministry issued this directive under Article 245 of the Constitution. The troop deployment aims to safeguard lives, property, and government infrastructure during the state of emergency. Kundi will coordinate with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters to determine troop and resource requirements. Security around key government sites in Peshawar has also been heightened by police and other security agencies.
Months of tension between the federal government and PTI over security policies and political demands culminated in this action. Negotiations between the two sides collapsed in early October, after which PTI supporters continued a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple criminal charges, which PTI dismisses and condemns the federal intervention for.
PTI rejects federal measures and provincial authority transfer
PTI leaders condemned the declaration of emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule, asserting that such steps undermine the province’s elected mandate. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not lead to peace. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also criticized the removal of the provincial administration. Before the decision, then-Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had publicly opposed any form of emergency or governor’s rule. PTI has also challenged federal criticisms of its counterterrorism strategies, asserting it was not sufficiently involved in security decisions.
The federal government explains that the move followed cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and security reports. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting chaired by Sharif. Authorities link the intervention to ongoing security issues and the breakdown of negotiations with PTI. The army deployment remains linked to the proclamation of emergency and governor’s rule. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council established to oversee provincial affairs.