Politics · Other · 12 hrs ago
Pakistan takes direct control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under emergency rule
Pakistan’s federal government has taken direct control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in the country’s northwest.
President Asif Ali Zardari declared an emergency on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the provincial government could no longer function under the Constitution.
The province had been governed by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party since 2013.
The federal government says the move is needed to address lawlessness and terrorism, while PTI has rejected it.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi will take over the provincial government’s functions, and Pakistan’s parliament will assume the powers of the provincial assembly.
The army is expected to help the governor maintain law and order.
The chief minister and other provincial officials have been removed from office under the proclamation, and Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry said the chief minister had been detained.
Pakistan’s federal government has taken direct control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after declaring a state of emergency in the province.
President Asif Ali Zardari signed the proclamation on Sunday, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is to assume the provincial government’s functions, while Parliament takes over the provincial assembly’s powers.
The government said the move was needed to address law and order and terrorism.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which governs the province, rejected the move.
- Who
- Pakistan’s federal government took control of the province. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is to assume the provincial government’s functions.
- What
- A state of emergency was declared and the provincial government’s functions were suspended.
- When
- President Asif Ali Zardari signed the proclamation on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The interior minister said on Monday that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was detained.
- Where
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
- Why
- The federal government cited law and order, counterterrorism and the need to protect people from terrorist activities.
Pakistan’s federal government
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Reason for the move
Pakistan’s federal government
The government said emergency rule was needed to address law and order and terrorism.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
PTI rejected the move.
Talks between the federal government and PTI collapsed over a planned march to Islamabad demanding Imran Khan’s release.
President Asif Ali Zardari signed the emergency proclamation on the prime minister’s advice.
Junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry said Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had been placed under detention.
- Province
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Governor
- Faisal Karim Kundi
- Advisory council
- 11 members
- Designated districts
- 12
- Chief minister
- Sohail Afridi
What people are saying
The fundamental grounds for imposition of emergency are law and order, fight against terrorism, and to save innocent people from the dreadful consequences of terrorist activities
However, this does not mean that the KP assembly or its elected Chief Minister have been permanently removed. It is more akin to thinking they are dysfunctional until the emergency is lifted, at which point they must be restored
No province has been divided anywhere. It is only that these are the war-hit districts where more funding and more focus will be needed at this time, and for that this has been set apart
The constitutional provision that mandates the separation of the judiciary from the executive has been suspended, allowing executive officers to perform judicial functions
Sources
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