PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has enacted emergency measures and placed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under governor’s rule following approval from President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday. This move effectively removes the provincial administration led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from control of government functions. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which recommended the action. The government cited ongoing security issues and disagreements over counterterrorism coordination as reasons for the intervention. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sharing a border with Afghanistan, has experienced multiple militant attacks.
Legal authority for these measures stems from Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 232 grants emergency powers in response to serious threats to national or regional security, while Article 234 permits federal intervention when a provincial government cannot operate in accordance with constitutional provisions. Under governor’s rule, authority shifts from the elected provincial government to the governor, in line with constitutional arrangements. Parliament is also empowered to exercise functions usually managed by the provincial assembly. Courts, however, are not included in the transfer of powers.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assumed control of the province with backing from an 11-member advisory council. The council convened its initial meeting after the emergency measures came into effect. Members were assigned 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 adhere to the law and avoid violence or riots during this political transition.
Authorization of Army Deployment Under Article 245
The federal authorities also authorized the deployment of army troops and military resources to assist civilian agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This directive was issued by the Interior Ministry under Article 245 of the Constitution. The deployment aims to safeguard lives, property, and government facilities during the emergency period. Kundi will coordinate with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters to determine troop and asset requirements. Security personnel, including police, have increased their presence around key government sites in Peshawar.
This emergency situation follows months of tension between the federal government and PTI over security policies and political demands. Negotiations between the two sides broke down in early October, after which PTI supporters organized a protest march demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases. PTI continues to reject the charges and condemns federal intervention.
PTI Condemns Federal Action and Opposes Provincial Control Shift
Leaders of PTI criticized the declaration of emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule, arguing that these measures undermine the province’s elected mandate. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not bring peace. Zulfiqar Bukhari, a senior PTI figure, 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 criticisms of its counterterrorism strategies, asserting it lacked sufficient involvement in security decisions.
The federal government affirms that the decision was based on cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and law and order reports. President Zardari signed the recommendation following the cabinet meeting led by Sharif. The government linked the intervention to security concerns and the collapse of negotiations with PTI. The army’s deployment remains linked to the emergency and governor’s rule declaration. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council established to oversee provincial affairs.