Pakistan Imposes Emergency Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ahead of Imran Khan Supporters’ March

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday and suspended its provincial government, escalating tensions ahead of a planned march on Islamabad by supporters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan.

The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office said the federal Cabinet had recommended emergency rule, accusing the provincial administration of “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.

The measures place the province under an appointed governor representing the federal government. An 11-member advisory council will oversee provincial affairs under Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, according to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

The suspended government was led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which has rejected the decision and described it as an attack on democracy.

Government cites rising militant violence

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the provincial government of neglecting counterterrorism efforts while concentrating on securing Khan’s release. He said delays in decision-making and poor coordination with Islamabad had allowed militants to gain ground.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said militant violence in the province had increased by 196 per cent in recent years.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the provincial administration of forming an “unholy alliance” with militants, arguing that its failure to fulfil constitutional responsibilities had undermined efforts to protect civilians and security forces.

Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant attacks in recent years, particularly in its northwestern regions. Much of the violence has been attributed to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group allied with the Afghan Taliban.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing shelter to TTP fighters, an allegation Kabul denies.

PTI calls decision a ‘disguised coup’

Khan’s spokesperson, Zulfiquar Bukhari, condemned the suspension of the provincial government, calling it a “disguised coup”.

He argued that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration was the only provincial government with a genuine popular mandate following the February 2024 parliamentary elections, which PTI claims were rigged.

“Now that little bit of democracy is also gone,” Bukhari said.

Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges that he and his party describe as politically motivated. His release remains a central demand of PTI, which has continued to mobilise supporters despite his detention.

Talks between PTI and the federal government last week failed to produce an agreement to postpone the planned march. The party also demanded Khan’s transfer to a hospital and permission for family visits. The government has said he is in good health and receives regular visits, while insisting that meetings cannot be used for political purposes.

Security tightened ahead of Islamabad march

Authorities deployed additional police and security personnel to prevent unrest. Police also detained several PTI supporters overnight, while shipping containers placed along key roads in Islamabad have disrupted traffic and forced commuters to take longer routes.

Afridi had urged supporters on Saturday to prepare for the march after leading demonstrations through several districts. Residents said protesters dispersed following the suspension of the provincial government, with daily life remaining largely normal.

Political analyst Azeem Chaudhry said the emergency measures effectively removed PTI from power in the only province it governed, suspending the provincial assembly and Afridi’s Cabinet.

The move comes as Pakistan faces growing security challenges alongside an intensifying political dispute over Khan’s imprisonment and the legitimacy of the country’s political institutions.