Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan’s federal government has declared a state of emergency in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, leading to the dissolution of the provincial government. The decision, issued on Sunday, cites a severe deterioration in law and order and a breakdown of constitutional governance, particularly in light of rising militant attacks.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, President Asif Ali Zardari issued the proclamation under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution. This emergency declaration grants the federal government broad executive and legislative powers within the province. Consequently, the provincial chief minister, ministers, advisers, special assistants, and the advocate general are to vacate their offices immediately.
The move follows a protracted protest march organized by the KPK provincial government, led by individuals associated with the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The march, which began on October 4 from Lakki Marwat, aimed to pressure the federal government for the release of Imran Khan and to secure medical access for him. The chief minister had previously vowed to continue peaceful protests, rejecting military operations as a solution to the province’s security challenges.
The presidential declaration explicitly stated that the emergency was imposed due to an increase in militant incidents and the grave law and order situation. The document highlighted that the “extraordinary intensity of terrorist incidents poses serious threats to the lives and property of the public.” It also noted a rise in attacks targeting government installations, infrastructure, and law enforcement agencies.
The federal government accused the provincial administration of failing to demonstrate the necessary resolve and implement effective measures to curb militancy and lawlessness. A report submitted by the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was cited as evidence of a breakdown in constitutional machinery, rendering the provincial government incapable of functioning in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Under the emergency proclamation, the federal government has the authority to direct the provincial governor to assume all or some of the functions of the provincial government. The governor may also be empowered to exercise the powers of other provincial institutions and officials, including the Provincial Assembly, as mandated by the federal government. The powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will now be exercised by the Parliament or under its authorization, with the declaration taking immediate effect.
The federal cabinet had endorsed the emergency proposal earlier on Sunday, following a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was convened to review the escalating security situation in KPK. The cabinet concluded that the provincial government had shown deliberate disengagement from the fight against militancy and recommended the imposition of an emergency.
An official statement from the cabinet indicated that various options were explored before the decision was made, including mediation efforts with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). These attempts, however, failed to achieve a resolution.
Prime Minister Sharif reportedly informed the cabinet that the KPK government was not adequately addressing the threat of militancy and stressed the need for decisive action. He stated that the province had received substantial financial support, amounting to at least PKR 800 billion over the past decade, intended for combating militancy and enhancing security, yet the situation had not improved.
The protest march by Imran Khan’s party was initiated after two rounds of talks between the party and the federal government failed. Key demands from the party included immediate access to Imran Khan, permission for his personal doctors to examine him, the release of his sisters and supporters arrested prior to the protest, a thorough medical check-up for his wife, Bushra Bibi, and impartial hearings for their legal cases.
Imran Khan, a former cricketer turned politician, has been held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023. He faces over 100 legal cases, including charges related to corruption and incitement to violence. The federal government had previously warned that protesters would not be permitted to enter Islamabad, where security measures were intensified and key routes were blocked.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
