Key developments:
- Emergency imposed under Article 232, governor’s rule under Article 234
- Cabinet recommended move due to KP govt’s ‘deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism’
- Technocratic council formed; Fakhr Alam appointed as KP chief secretary
- PTI’s Gohar condemns decision as undemocratic, says peace cannot be established by weakening provincial autonomy
- Governor Kundi calls for unity for ‘new chapter’ in KP’s development
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Sunday imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the president’s approval of the recommendations by the federal cabinet.
The measures have been approved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, the President House said in a statement. The two provisions pertain to the proclamation of emergency and governor’s rule.
Following the imposition, internet disruptions were being reported from parts of Peshawar, with Dawn unable to contact its correspondents there.
According to sources in the telecom sector, mobile network and data services have been slowed or shut down in selected areas of some cities. However, there is no province-wide shutdown of mobile data or internet.
The federal government also authorised the deployment of Pakistan Army troops and assets in aid of civil power in KP. On the ground, shipping containers were placed around the city of Peshawar to block several roads, with heavy police deployment.
The decision to impose the emergency provisions came during an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he was briefed on the security situation in KP.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said cabinet members reviewed the situation and took note of the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.
The members proposed, given the “gravity” of the situation, that the PM advise the president to exercise “his constitutional authority and impose an emergency in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution”.
The emergency imposition comes a day after PM Shehbaz met President Zardari and discussed the country’s overall security situation.
That meeting came amid heightened tensions between the PML-N-led federal government and the KP government led by the PTI — which is in opposition in the Centre. They have been at odds over various issues, particularly on the counterterrorism policy, which was one of the main reasons behind the breakdown of their Oct 3 talks.
The PTI has said it was being left out of security decisions concerning KP, which the Centre has denied. It also calls for reviewing the counterterrorism policy and opposes military operations.
On the other hand, the Centre has been criticising the KP government’s efforts to combat terrorism in the province and objects to its stance on dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.
It may be recalled that in July 2024, when Afridi’s predecessor Ali Amin Gandapur was the chief minister, the KP Assembly passed a resolution urging the federal government to consult with it and the provincial government before launching a new military operation.
The resolution, passed by a majority vote, cautioned that proceeding without provincial consent could hinder the offensive’s success and result in adverse consequences, for which the federal government would be responsible.
In December that year, the assembly voted unanimously against a potential military operation in parts of Khyber and Bannu districts.
About a year later, after Afridi became the KP CM, the provincial assembly convened a grand jirga with Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and other parties in attendance. The moot unanimously demanded that the Centre prioritise negotiations with Afghanistan and consult the KP government over Afghan policy.
Constitutional provisions
Emergency
Article 232 of the Constitution provides for the proclamation of emergency in a province.
It says, “If the president is satisfied that a grave emergency exists in which the security of Pakistan, or any part thereof, is threatened by war or external aggression, or by internal disturbance beyond the power of a provincial government to control, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency.”
However, invoking this article “due to internal disturbances beyond the powers of a provincial government to control” requires a resolution from the provincial assembly of that province.
In case the president “acts on his own” — which is not currently the case — the Proclamation of Emergency is to be placed before both houses of Parliament for approval by each house within 10 days.
According to this provision, parliament “shall have power to make laws for a province, or any part thereof, with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List” during the time of the proclamation of an emergency.
Nothing in this Article shall restrict the power of a provincial assembly to make any law which the Constitution empowers it to make, but if any provision of a provincial law is repugnant to any provision of an Act by Parliament, the latter would prevail and the provincial law would be void as long as the parliamentary Act is in effect.
Governor’s rule
On the other hand, Article 234 deals with the imposition of the governor’s rule “in case of failure of constitutional machinery in a province”. For imposition of the governor’s rule, the president simply requires a request from the provincial governor, it says.
“A proclamation issued under this Article shall be laid before a joint sitting and shall cease to be in force at the expiration of two months, unless before the expiration of that period it has been approved by resolution of the joint sitting and may by like resolution be extended for a further period not exceeding two months at a time,” the Constitution reads.
However, it adds that no such proclamation shall in any case remain in force for more than six months.
Article 233, which provides powers to the president to suspend certain fundamental rights during the emergency period, was not mentioned in the summary signed by President Zardari.
Where is Sohail Afridi?
A couple of hours after the imposition of emergency was announced, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, who had been accompanying now dysfunctional KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on the PTI’s long march, claimed that the he had been taken into custody.
Dawn contacted police for a confirmation soon after Jan’s claim, but there was no response.
Meanwhile, MNA Shahid Khattak also claimed Afridi’s “arrest”, as well as MNA Junaid Akbar and others from there party.
He also said he would be leading the march now.
Later, the PTI issued a statement, condemning the “arrest” of Afridi and other and describing it as an act of “political victimisation and an attempt to weaken the province’s elected leadership and democratic institutions”.
It quoted PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram as saying that Afridi’s “arrest” could not be viewed in isolation from the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule.
“The developments reflect a broader effort to bypass elected institutions and undermine the constitutional authority of the province.
“The arrest of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Junaid Akbar has exposed the political nature of the federal government’s actions. These measures are not directed at addressing security challenges; they are intended to weaken PTI, undermine the elected government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and disregard the democratic will of its people,” he said.
Akram demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” Afridi, Akbar and “all other political detainees arrested in connection with the ongoing action against PTI”. He also demanded that the federal government publicly disclose the “legal grounds, specific charges and procedural basis for the arrests of the chief minister and the PTI provincial president”.
However, he sounded less certain while speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’. He said they had received reports of Afridi and Akbar’s arrest, and adding that they were unable to confirm whether Jan and Khattak, too, had been taken into custody.
“We are unable to contact some people […] Because the internet has been suspended in several areas, we are unable to contact. You do not know the havoc they have created in KP. People are escaping and going into hiding,” he said.
In a clip shared on PTI’s official X account, Salman Akram Raja, the party’s secretary general, said, “We do not know where Sohail Afridi is, in what condition he has been kept. Junaid Akbar is also missing.”
When Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry was asked about reports of Afridi’s arrest during ‘Naya Pakistan’, he said some individuals had been detained in view of the law and order situation but did not confirm whether they included Afridi.
He said those who did not have a criminal record or were not wanted would be released.
Council, chief secretary appointed
Following the imposition of emergency, the federal government formed an 11-member technocratic KP Advisory Council to assist the governor with running the province.
Later, Governor Kundi also chaired the first meeting of the council, vowing to restore peace in the province.
Earlier in the day, the federal government appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the chief secretary of KP, according to an official notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn.
The appointment will take effect immediately and remain in place until further orders, it said.
Dr Irfan, a Grade 22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), was previously serving as secretary of the Power Division in the federal Ministry of Energy. He hails from Mardan.
In a separate notification, the federal government also placed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada at the disposal of the KP government with “immediate effect and until further orders”.
Akhunzada, a Grade 20 PAS officer, was serving as an additional secretary at PMO.
He hails from Charsadda and has also served as additional political agent for North and South Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education in KP, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan.
‘Peace cannot be established by weakening provincial autonomy’
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly condemned the imposition of emergency in KP and “completely rejected” it.
“This is an extremely alarming and grave political mistake and an undemocratic measure — the people will never accept such actions against their rights,” Gohar wrote in a post on X.
He stated: “There is still time; this decision can be withdrawn in a few days. Let the federation set aside its ego, understand the ground realities, accept legitimate demands, respect the sentiments and emotions of the people, and save the country from further political and economic damage and from pushing back the democratic process.
“Revisiting political decisions is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom in the national interest — otherwise, great damage will be done.”
Stressing that the mandate of the people of KP was their constitutional and legal right, the PTI chairman said: “Peace cannot be established, nor stability brought, by ignoring this mandate, weakening provincial autonomy, and creating conflict between the federation and the province.”
He asserted that there was “no disagreement on eliminating terrorism, but the fight against terrorism cannot be used as a justification to suppress the people’s voice, achieve political objectives, or limit the province’s constitutional authority”.
“Terrorism can only be combated through national unity and a joint strategy,” Gohar maintained.
“The federation cannot be strengthened by weakening the provinces. The solution to problems lies not in force, confrontation, and extraordinary measures, but in political wisdom, supremacy of the Constitution, and meaningful negotiations and practical steps.”
The PTI chairman said his party will raise the matter on “every constitutional, legal, and democratic forum for the protection of the people’s mandate, provincial autonomy, and constitutional and democratic rights”.
Later in the day, Gohar said PTI would challenge governor’s rule through the courts, assemblies and public forums.
The PTI parliamentary committee held a meeting and categorically rejected the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in KP. In a statement issued afterwards, it termed the development “a direct assault on the public mandate and an unacceptable move”.
“In a three-hour-long meeting of the PTI parliamentary party, the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in KP was strongly condemned and unanimously rejected. The meeting declared this step contrary to facts, unconstitutional, undemocratic, and a blatant insult to the public mandate of the province,” the statement said.
“The parliamentary party made it clear that measures to render the elected provincial government ineffective and usurp its constitutional powers could pose grave threats to the federal system and democratic traditions. Such decisions will increase political instability and public unrest in the province, while already existing tensions between the federation and the province will further intensify,” it added.
The statement added that the solution to political differences should be found through constitutional and democratic procedures and mutual consultation, rather than through force and coercion.
It also raised serious questions regarding the conduct of the federal government.
“The parliamentary party took the stance that if terrorism and the deteriorating law and order situation are the primary justification for the imposition of emergency, then why is the situation in Balochistan being ignored?” the statement asked.
The meeting also made it clear that Afridi was the elected chief minister and a member of the provincial assembly.
“Measures regarding his arrest, detention, or the usurping of his constitutional and democratic powers were strongly condemned. The meeting termed such actions an insult to the public mandate and a dangerous precedent for democratic traditions,” it said.
The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), of which PTI is a part, termed the move a violation of the Constitution.
In a statement, the opposition alliance particularly assailed President Zardari’s PPP, claiming that the “most undemocratic actions and the imposition of governor’s rule” had been the hallmark of the party in the country’s history.
“On the one hand, despite the extremely dire administrative and law and order situation in Balochistan, no such step has been taken, while on the other hand, this province — whose assembly and government stand on the true and real mandate of the people — has been targeted,” it contended.
TTAP said it would convene a meeting on the matter and announce a joint course of action.
Governor Kundi urges unity for ‘new chapter’
Meanwhile, Governor Kundi said the decision was made for “establishing peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the prosperity of its people, and the development of the province”.
“I am your governor, but beyond that, I want to play my role as a servant of this soil and a protector of your rights. Let us come together to bring peace to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and begin a new chapter of our province’s development,” he said in a statement.
Kundi assured the public that it was his responsibility to raise their issues on the relevant forums.
Recalling the sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism, he said, “Now the time has come that we do not let these sacrifices go to waste and together establish lasting peace in our province.”
The PPP leader urged the public to set aside their political differences and unite for the province’s peace, the protection of its people, and the future of the coming generations.
“We must not let our differences become an obstacle in the path of our province’s common interests.”
Cannot allow PTI to destabilise the economy: PM tells cabinet
Addressing the cabinet meeting, the premier said the PTI-led KP government cannot be allowed to derail the stabilising economy amid tensions between the two sides.
“I will not allow them (PTI) to destabilise the economy,” he said during the meeting.
On terrorism in KP and Balochistan, the premier said, “The way common citizens are being martyred, the way police officials and security officials, children and mothers [..] there can be nothing more heart-wrenching.”
He recalled that Pakistan has repeatedly urged neighbouring Afghanistan to rein in the terrorist elements; however, “they still do not understand it”.
PM Shehbaz also reiterated his condemnation of the recent deadly Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, noting the long-standing fraternal ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
“Our only goal is that peace should be restored in the region,” he said.
“Pakistan expresses solidarity with Saudi Arabia and stands with it. We will not tolerate any aggression against Saudi Arabia,” he said, adding that it was a “red line” for Pakistan.
During his address, PM Shehbaz also spoke of the recent staff-level agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“It is hoped that we will unlock the $1.2 billion tranche within this year,” he said, recalling a meeting with the IMF’s Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last month.
He commended the political and military leadership for “working together day and night” in bringing fiscal discipline to Pakistan.
The premier recalled his visit to London last month, where he had met with senior executives from leading global financial institutions.
He also spoke of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in the international community, taking note of the appreciation Pakistan has received for mediation in the Middle East conflict.
“Pakistan continues to play its role with hard work and sincerity,” he said, particularly lauding the role of the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Additional input by Ikram Junaidi, Kalbe Ali
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