PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has enacted emergency measures and placed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under governor’s rule after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the recommendations from the federal government on Sunday. This move effectively removes the provincial administration led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from control of government functions, a decision that was endorsed during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The government cited concerns over security and disagreements related to counterterrorism coordination as the primary reasons for this action. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has experienced multiple militant attacks prompting such measures.
The legal basis for these actions is rooted in Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. While Article 232 pertains to emergency powers invoked in the face of serious threats to national or regional security, Article 234 authorizes federal intervention when a provincial government is unable to operate according to constitutional standards. Under governor’s rule, the authority of the provincial executive shifts to the governor, as stipulated in the constitutional framework, and Parliament can also assume powers normally exercised by the provincial assembly, though courts remain unaffected by these transferred authorities.
With the support of an 11-member advisory council, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has assumed control of the province, and the council convened its first meeting following the implementation of emergency measures. Members of the council received portfolios covering areas such as 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 avoid violence or protests during this political transition.
Deployment of Army Forces Authorized Under Article 245
The federal authorities also authorized the deployment of army personnel and military resources to assist civilian agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as ordered by the Interior Ministry under Article 245 of the Constitution. This deployment is aimed at safeguarding lives, property, and government installations throughout the emergency period. Kundi will assess the specific needs for troops and assets in collaboration with the Military Operations Directorate at General Headquarters. Furthermore, police and other security agencies have increased their presence around key government sites in Peshawar to ensure security.
These measures come after months of mounting tension between the federal government and PTI regarding security policies and political demands, with talks between the two sides breaking down in early October. Supporters of PTI then continued a protest march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been in prison since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases, which PTI dismisses and condemns as politically motivated federal interference.
PTI Condemns Federal Takeover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Leaders of PTI condemned the declaration of emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule, arguing that such measures undermine the province’s elected mandate. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan emphasized that weakening provincial autonomy would not lead to peace, while senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also criticized the removal of the provincial administration. Prior to the 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 strategies and claims it was not adequately involved in security decision-making processes.
The federal government maintains that the decision followed cabinet approval, the prime minister’s advice, and reports concerning law and order. President Zardari signed the recommendation after the cabinet meeting led by Sharif, linking the intervention to ongoing security concerns and the breakdown of negotiations with PTI. The authorization for military deployment remains tied to the declared emergency and governor’s rule, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to operate under Governor Kundi and the advisory council established to oversee provincial matters.