Politics · Other · 4 hrs ago
Pakistan suspends Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over alleged militant ties
Pakistan’s federal government has suspended the administration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in the country’s northwest, and imposed a state of emergency.
The province was led by Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, while Khan is in prison.
The federal government accuses the provincial administration of working with the Pakistani Taliban, a militant group linked to a recent rise in violence.
Khan’s party denies the accusations, and its spokesman says lawyers are preparing a legal challenge.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the province’s top elected official, was removed and taken into government custody.
The federal government says direct rule will help security forces coordinate their counterterrorism efforts, but it has not set a timetable for ending the emergency.
Schools closed for a day as a precaution, while daily life largely continued and protests were limited.
Pakistan’s federal government suspended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial administration and imposed a state of emergency, accusing it of colluding with the Pakistani Taliban.
The federal government said the measures would help security forces and the new administration coordinate counterterrorism efforts.
The province’s chief minister, Sohail Afridi, was removed and taken into government custody.
Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party rejected the allegations and said its legal team was preparing challenges to the emergency decree.
Daily life in the province continued largely as normal on Monday, though schools were closed for a day and demonstrations were limited.
- Who
- Pakistan’s federal government suspended the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration led by Imran Khan’s party. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was removed and taken into government custody.
- What
- The government suspended the provincial administration and imposed a state of emergency, alleging it colluded with the Pakistani Taliban.
- When
- The suspension was announced on Sunday; federal officials made the accusations on Monday.
- Where
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in northwestern Pakistan.
- Why
- The federal government said the measures would help coordinate efforts to combat terrorism. Khan’s party rejected the allegations.
Pakistan’s federal government
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Alleged militant ties
Pakistan’s federal government
The provincial administration colluded with the Pakistani Taliban, the federal government alleged.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
PTI rejected the allegations.
Emergency measures
Pakistan’s federal government
The suspension and emergency would help security forces and the new administration coordinate counterterrorism efforts.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
PTI said its legal team was preparing legal challenges against the emergency decree.
Counterterrorism policy
Pakistan’s federal government
The government said it had exhausted efforts, including negotiations, to avoid imposing direct rule.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
Afridi and other PTI leaders said the government’s counterterrorism policy was flawed and that the fight against terrorism was separate from Khan’s release.
Talks between PTI and the federal government ended without agreement.
Pakistan’s federal government suspended the provincial administration and imposed a state of emergency.
The federal government accused the provincial administration of colluding with the Pakistani Taliban and said it had solid evidence.
- Province
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwestern Pakistan
- Suspension
- At least six months, according to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar
- Chief minister
- Sohail Afridi was removed and placed in government custody
- Party
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, led by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan
- Schools
- Closed for one day as a precaution against possible unrest
What people are saying
You cannot have a provincial government in the country which sympathizes with the terrorists, or which supports terrorists.
Sources
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