In Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the government imposed emergency rule on October 12, 2026, after anti-government protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Authorities arrested 278 members of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, including provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
The government imposed emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The federal government said the move was needed because the provincial administration had failed to manage militant violence and security. PTI leaders described the measures as undemocratic.
#WorldNews: A provincial chief minister - belonging to the party of #Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan - and some of his cabinet members were detained after the suspension of his government under emergency rule. https://t.co/zaDpKlETvX
On October 8, 2026, anti-government protests demanding Imran Khan's release took place. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges that he and his legal team say are politically motivated.
Khan's imprisonment since August 2023 remains the central issue driving the unrest.
Officials said the provincial administration had failed to manage militant violence and security. PTI representatives rejected the justification, saying the emergency rule was undemocratic.
Among those detained was Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The 278 arrested party members included provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other PTI members.
Khan's imprisonment since August 2023 remains the central issue driving the unrest. Khan and his legal team maintain the charges are politically motivated.
The PTI condemns the move as an undemocratic power grab. The PTI has described the emergency rule as an undemocratic power grab.
Emergency rule has been imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and 278 PTI members have been arrested. The federal government says the move was needed due to the provincial administration's failure to manage militant violence and security. Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 on charges that he and his legal team say are politically motivated.