President Asif Ali Zardari announced the imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, effectively removing power from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The move, proposed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was justified citing security threats and a need to curb Islamist violence. The federal cabinet held an emergency meeting to ratify the decision, and the president approved both emergency rule and governor's rule in the province.
The president’s action rests on Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. The decision was made after consultation with the prime minister and the army chief. These constitutional provisions serve as the legal foundation for suspending the provincial government and placing the province under direct federal authority.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, warned that anyone who takes the law into their own hands would be dealt with “an iron hand.” This statement was issued by the governor regarding the ongoing protests.
Imran Khan’s removal from office in 2022-04-01 after losing a no-confidence vote set off a chain of events that culminated in his imprisonment in 2023-08-01.
Even as the emergency was imposed, thousands of Imran Khan’s supporters demonstrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding his release from prison where he has been held since 2023-08-01 following his ouster in a no-confidence vote in 2022-04-01. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had been organizing protest marches, arguing that the 2024 election that brought Shehbaz Sharif back to power was rigged. The federal government, meanwhile, accused the PTI of failing to curb Islamist violence in the province and of sympathizing with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. The PTI rejected these accusations, calling the emergency move an undemocratic political mistake.
Pakistan’s military regime imposed Emergency (Governor Rule) in KPK. KPK was the only province being ruled by Imran Khan’s party PTI, thus making the only province where military couldn’t loot and exercise it’s brutal power freely. Rest of the Pakistan were already ruled by the army through their representatives. #Pakistan #ImranKhan #PTI #KPK https://t.co/nMHVvGonOa
Imran Khan’s removal from office in 2022-04-01 after losing a no-confidence vote set off a chain of events that culminated in his imprisonment in 2023-08-01. The subsequent general election in 2024-01-01 returned Shehbaz Sharif to the premiership, a result that Khan’s supporters continue to contest. The PTI controlled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, making it the last provincial bastion of the party. The federal decision to suspend that government removed the party’s final institutional foothold.
In addition to the presidential proclamation, the central government moved to enforce the emergency. The federal cabinet held an emergency meeting to approve the move, which was taken to address security threats and the breakdown of constitutional governance.
The federal government has formally issued a notification authorizing the deployment of the Pakistan Army in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assist the civil administration. - The deployment of Pakistan Army troops and resources in the province has been approved under Article 245 of the Constitution. - The federal government has authorized the deployment for the duration of the proclamation issued on October 11, 2026, under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. - The primary objective of the deployment is to ensure the protection of citizens' lives and property, as well as government installations. - According to the notification, the Pakistan Army will assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. - The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in consultation with the Military Operations Directorate at GHQ, will determine the number of troops and resources to be deployed.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is under direct federal control, its provincial government suspended. Protests continue, with Khan’s supporters demanding his release. The government maintains that the emergency is a step to address security threats.
