PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has implemented emergency measures and placed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under governor’s rule after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal recommendations on Sunday. This move removes the provincial administration led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from control of government functions. The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had recommended this course of action. The government cited concerns over security issues and disagreements regarding counterterrorism coordination. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sharing a border with Afghanistan, has experienced multiple militant attacks.
The authorities invoked Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution to justify their decision. Article 232 pertains to emergency powers granted in response to serious threats to national or regional security, while Article 234 authorizes federal intervention when a provincial government cannot operate in accordance with constitutional provisions. Under governor’s rule, the provincial executive authority is transferred to the governor as per the constitutional framework. Parliament is also empowered to exercise the powers typically held by the provincial assembly. Courts, however, remain outside these transferred powers.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed command 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 received portfolios including 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 abide by the law and refrain from violence or rioting during this political transition.
Deployment of military forces authorized under Article 245
The federal government has also authorized army personnel and military resources to assist civilian authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This order was issued by the Interior Ministry under Article 245 of the Constitution. The deployment aims to protect lives, property, and government installations throughout the emergency period. Kundi will assess troop and resource requirements in consultation with the Military Operations Directorate at the General Headquarters. Security around key government locations in Peshawar has also been bolstered by police and other security agencies.
This emergency follows months of tension between the federal government and PTI over security policies and political demands. Negotiations between the two sides collapsed in early October, after which PTI supporters continued a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has remained incarcerated since August 2023, facing multiple criminal cases, which PTI dismisses and condemns the federal intervention for.
PTI condemns federal takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
PTI leaders criticized the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, asserting that these measures undermine the province’s elected mandate. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that weakening provincial autonomy would not bring peace. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also voiced opposition to the removal of the provincial administration. Prior to this decision, then-Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had publicly opposed any form of emergency or governor’s rule. PTI also disputes federal criticism of its counterterrorism efforts, claiming it was not adequately involved in security decisions.
The federal authorities maintain that the decision was taken following cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and reports related to law and order. President Zardari signed off on the recommendation after the cabinet meeting chaired by Sharif. The government links this intervention to ongoing security concerns and the breakdown of negotiations with PTI. The army’s deployment remains tied to the emergency declaration and governor’s rule. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council established to oversee provincial affairs.