Islamabad/Peshawar, October 11,2026: The federal government on Sunday imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after President Asif Ali Zardari approved recommendations made by the federal cabinet, escalating tensions between the Centre and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government.
According to a statement issued by the President House, the measures were approved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, which deal with the proclamation of an emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the security situation in the province was reviewed.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said cabinet members had taken note of what it described as the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.
Given the gravity of the situation, the cabinet recommended that the prime minister advise the president to exercise his constitutional authority to impose the measures.
Following the announcement, internet disruptions were reported in parts of Peshawar. Police deployment was increased, while containers were used to place barriers on certain routes.
Sources in the telecommunications sector said mobile networks and data services had been slowed or suspended in selected areas of some cities. However, no province-wide shutdown of mobile data or internet services had been reported.
KP chief minister’s reported detention
A few hours after the decision was announced, KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, who had been accompanying Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during the PTI’s long march, claimed that the chief minister had been taken into custody.
The federal government’s move came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz met President Zardari to discuss the overall security situation in the country.
Relations between the PML-N-led federal government and the PTI-led KP administration have remained strained over several issues, particularly counterterrorism policy and the provincial government’s position on engagement with the Afghan Taliban.
These differences were among the main reasons behind the breakdown of talks between the two sides on October 3.
The PTI has maintained that it is being excluded from decisions concerning the province’s security, a claim rejected by the federal government. The party has also called for a review of the counterterrorism policy and opposed military operations.
The Centre, meanwhile, has criticised the provincial government’s efforts to combat terrorism and expressed reservations about its approach towards dialogue with the Afghan Taliban.
In July 2024, the KP Assembly, under then-chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, passed a resolution calling on the federal government to consult the provincial administration before launching any new military operation.
The resolution warned that proceeding without provincial consent could undermine the operation and produce adverse consequences for which the federal government would be responsible.
In December 2024, the assembly unanimously opposed a potential military operation in parts of Khyber and Bannu districts.
Later, after Sohail Afridi became chief minister, the provincial assembly convened a grand jirga attended by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and representatives of other political parties. The gathering unanimously called on the federal government to prioritise negotiations with Afghanistan and consult the KP government on Afghan policy.
What the Constitution says
Emergency under Article 232
Article 232 of the Constitution provides for the proclamation of an emergency when the president is satisfied that Pakistan’s security, or that of any part of the country, is threatened by war, external aggression or internal disturbances beyond the control of a provincial government.
The provision states that an emergency may be proclaimed under such circumstances.
However, invoking the article on the grounds of internal disturbances beyond a provincial government’s control requires a resolution from the relevant provincial assembly.
If the president acts independently, the proclamation must be placed before both houses of Parliament for approval within 10 days.
During an emergency, Parliament may legislate for a province on matters not included in the Federal Legislative List. Provincial assemblies retain their lawmaking powers, but federal legislation prevails where the two conflict, for as long as the relevant federal law remains in force.
Governor’s rule under Article 234
Article 234 provides for the imposition of governor’s rule in the event of a failure of constitutional machinery in a province.
Under this provision, the president may issue a proclamation on receiving a report from the provincial governor.
The proclamation must be placed before a joint sitting of Parliament and will cease to remain in force after two months unless approved by a resolution of the joint sitting.
It may be extended for further periods of up to two months at a time, but cannot remain in force for more than six months.
Article 233, which deals with the suspension of certain fundamental rights during an emergency, was not mentioned in the summary signed by President Zardari.
Federal government appoints new KP chief secretary
Following the approval of the measures, the federal government appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to an official notification.
The appointment took effect immediately and will remain in place until further orders.
Dr Irfan, a Grade 22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, was previously serving as secretary of the Power Division in the federal Ministry of Energy. He belongs to Mardan.
In a separate notification, the government placed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada at the disposal of the KP government with immediate effect until further orders.
Akhunzada, a Grade 20 PAS officer, was serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He belongs to Charsadda and has previously served as additional political agent for North and South Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education in KP, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan.
PTI strongly rejects emergency, governor’s rule
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly condemned the federal government’s decision, describing it as an undemocratic measure and rejecting it outright.
“This is an extremely alarming and grave political mistake and an undemocratic measure — the people will never accept such actions against their rights,” Gohar said in a post on X.
He urged the federal government to reconsider the decision, set aside political differences and address what he described as legitimate demands of the people of KP.
Gohar said revisiting political decisions was a sign of wisdom rather than weakness and warned that the move could cause further political and economic damage while undermining the democratic process.
Emphasising the constitutional and legal rights of the people of KP, he said peace and stability could not be achieved by ignoring their mandate, weakening provincial autonomy or creating confrontation between the federation and the province.
The PTI chairman said his party had no disagreement with the objective of eliminating terrorism but maintained that counterterrorism efforts should not be used to suppress public opinion, pursue political objectives or curtail the province’s constitutional authority.
“Terrorism can only be combated through national unity and a joint strategy,” he said.
He added that the federation could not be strengthened by weakening the provinces and called for political wisdom, constitutional supremacy, meaningful negotiations and practical measures.
Gohar said the PTI would raise the issue at every constitutional, legal and democratic forum to protect the people’s mandate, provincial autonomy and democratic rights.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party had called a meeting of its parliamentary committee to consider possible responses.
He said the options included challenging the decision in court, boycotting proceedings in the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies, and holding peaceful protests across the country.
The final decision, he added, would be taken by the party’s political committee.
Opposition alliance calls move unconstitutional
The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), of which the PTI is a part, also described the move as a violation of the Constitution.
In a statement, the opposition alliance criticised President Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), alleging that undemocratic measures and the imposition of governor’s rule had been recurring features of the party’s political history.
The alliance questioned why similar action had not been taken in Balochistan despite what it described as a serious administrative and law-and-order situation, while KP had been targeted despite having an elected assembly and government.
TTAP said it would convene a meeting to discuss the matter and announce a joint course of action.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F) convened an emergency meeting of its central core committee for 4pm on Sunday at the residence of party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The meeting was called to discuss the prevailing political situation.
Fazlur Rehman, who has maintained contact with politicians across the political spectrum, had spoken to Prime Minister Shehbaz on Saturday in an effort to ease tensions between the federal and provincial governments.
Governor Kundi calls for unity
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi defended the decision, saying it had been taken to establish peace, promote prosperity and accelerate development in 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 residents that he would raise their concerns at the relevant forums.
Referring to the sacrifices made in the fight against terrorism, he said the time had come to ensure that those sacrifices did not go to waste and that lasting peace was established.
The PPP leader urged people to put aside political differences and unite to protect the province, its residents and future generations.
He stressed that political disagreements should not obstruct the province’s common interests.
PM says PTI cannot be allowed to destabilise economy
Addressing the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the PTI-led KP government could not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s economic stabilisation efforts.
“I will not allow them (PTI) to destabilise the economy,” he said.
Speaking about terrorism in KP and Balochistan, the prime minister expressed grief over the deaths of civilians, police personnel, security officials, children and women.
He said Pakistan had repeatedly urged neighbouring Afghanistan to take action against terrorist elements operating from its territory but lamented that the concerns had not been adequately addressed.
The prime minister also reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of a recent deadly Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia, highlighting the longstanding fraternal relations between the two countries.
“Our only goal is that peace should be restored in the region,” he said, adding that Pakistan stood in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and would not tolerate aggression against it.
Shehbaz described Saudi Arabia’s security as a red line for Pakistan.
PM expresses hope for IMF tranche
During the cabinet meeting, the prime minister also discussed Pakistan’s recent staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He expressed hope that Pakistan would secure the next $1.2 billion tranche within the year.
Shehbaz recalled his meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last month.
He commended the country’s political and military leadership for working together to strengthen fiscal discipline and economic stability.
The prime minister also referred to his visit to London last month, where he met senior executives of leading international financial institutions.
Highlighting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, he said the country had received appreciation for its role in mediation efforts relating to the Middle East conflict.
“Pakistan continues to play its role with hard work and sincerity,” he said, particularly praising Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
