PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has enacted emergency measures and installed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval of federal recommendations on Sunday. This decision effectively removes the provincial administration led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from control over government functions. The move was announced during a federal cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which advised the government to take this action. Authorities cited security concerns and disagreements regarding counterterrorism coordination as reasons for the intervention. Located along the Afghanistan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced multiple militant attacks.
The measures are based on Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Article 232 authorizes emergency powers in response to serious threats to national or regional security, while Article 234 permits federal intervention if a provincial government is unable to operate according to constitutional standards. Under governor’s rule, executive authority in the province transfers to the governor as per constitutional provisions. Parliament also gains the authority to exercise powers typically held by the provincial assembly, though courts remain outside these transferred powers.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed control of the province, supported by an 11-member advisory council. The council convened its first meeting after the implementation of the emergency measures. Members received portfolios that include 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.
Deployment of the Army Authorized Under Article 245
The federal authorities also authorized military troops and assets to assist civilian officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Interior Ministry issued the order under Article 245 of the Constitution, authorizing deployment to protect lives, property, and government installations amid the state of emergency. Kundi will determine the necessary troop and asset requirements in consultation with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters. Security personnel, including police, have increased their presence around key government sites in Peshawar.
This move 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 continued a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases, which PTI opposes and condemns federal intervention over.
PTI Condemns Federal Takeover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Party leaders of PTI strongly criticized the emergency declaration and governor’s rule, asserting that such measures undermine the elected authority of the province. Gohar Ali Khan, the party chairman, stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not bring peace. Zulfiqar Bukhari, a senior PTI member, 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 also disputes federal criticisms of its counterterrorism strategies, claiming it was not sufficiently involved in security decisions.
The federal government maintains that the decision was made following cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and reports concerning law and order. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting chaired by Sharif. Officials have linked the intervention to security concerns and the failure of negotiations with PTI. The army’s deployment remains contingent on the emergency and governor’s rule declaration. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council appointed to oversee provincial affairs.