On 2026-10-11 the federal government announced a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. President Asif Ali Zardari gave his approval to the cabinet’s recommendation, which had been chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The proclamation followed a formal process that transferred authority from the provincially elected administration to the governor of the province.
The emergency was justified by reference to two constitutional articles that allow the central government to override provincial powers when the provincial government is deemed to have retreated from its duties. The federal cabinet specifically accused the PTI‑led provincial administration of a deliberate withdrawal from the fight against terrorism, asserting that it had not taken sufficient measures to combat militant activity.
Almost simultaneously with the announcement, PTI chief Junaid Akbar confirmed that he had been taken into custody. He also stated that the provincial chief minister, Muhammad Sohlail Afridi, had been arrested. The arrests were confirmed by PTI leadership.
In the lead‑up to the emergency declaration, officials reiterated that any attempt to march on Islamabad would be blocked.
The PTI had been organising a march to Islamabad aimed at securing the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for more than three years. The march was originally scheduled for 27 September but was later rescheduled to 4 October. The federal government warned that it would not permit demonstrators to enter the capital, setting the stage for a potential confrontation.
Imran Khan’s detention has now exceeded three years.
In the lead‑up to the emergency declaration, officials reiterated that any attempt to march on Islamabad would be blocked. The authorities said they would not allow protesters to cross into the capital.
The federal government’s decision came amid a reported increase in terrorist attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a surge of demonstrations by PTI supporters demanding Khan’s release. The combination of heightened militancy and political unrest was cited as the backdrop for the emergency measures.
PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari denounced the federal action as undemocratic. He warned that dissolving a legally elected provincial government would provoke further bloodshed and instability, and he criticised the authorities for refusing to pursue a negotiated solution.