Islamabad, October 12,2026: National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Monday criticised the federal government’s decision to impose emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), questioning why similar action had not been taken in Balochistan despite its security challenges.
The federal government on Sunday imposed emergency measures in 12 districts of KP and placed the province under governor’s rule, citing what it described as the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the federal cabinet meeting that approved the measures. Speaking about terrorism in KP and Balochistan, he expressed grief over the killing of civilians, police personnel, security officials, women and children.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Achakzai claimed that the state’s writ was absent in half of Balochistan but the federal government had not imposed similar measures there.
“But you don’t impose it there, because the chief minister there is your favourite,” he alleged.
His remarks came amid ongoing security challenges in both provinces. According to data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Pakistan recorded 199 terrorist attacks in August, including 54 in KP, excluding the merged districts, and 89 in Balochistan.
Continuing his criticism of the federal government’s decision, Achakzai described the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP as an assault on the Constitution and democracy.
“This will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of everyone who values Pakistan and democracy to unite against this,” he said.
He announced that opposition parties would be asked to launch a “democratic struggle” against the move from Tuesday in areas where they had influence.
“We will not abuse anyone; we will not fire bullets — we don’t have any — and we will not throw even a stone on anyone,” he said.
Achakzai urged Pakistanis, including judges, military officers and government officials, to resist what he termed an attack on the constitutional order.
The federal government’s decision followed weeks of political tensions surrounding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march towards Islamabad, led by suspended KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
Achakzai maintained that Afridi’s demand was limited to securing access to Imran Khan and ensuring his medical treatment. He reiterated the demand for meetings with the former prime minister, assuring that PTI leaders would not disclose details of their conversations and would only inform the public about his health.
He said the opposition remained willing to negotiate with the government but would continue its political struggle against the existing system.
Rejecting criticism that he was unwilling to meet government representatives, Achakzai said Pakistan was bigger than the Prime Minister’s House or the National Assembly speaker’s chamber. He reiterated that he was prepared to meet officials at a private residence rather than at the Prime Minister’s House, the Prime Minister’s Office or the speaker’s chamber.
He also invited political parties to attend a proposed all-parties conference to discuss the country’s governance.
Speaking alongside Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Abbas Nasir also criticised the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP.
He accused the government of undermining the Constitution, alleging that it had come to power through Form-47 and was now removing a provincial government that had secured a two-thirds majority.
Nasir argued that the PTI-led provincial government had sought to resolve the province’s problems through consensus by involving political and religious parties. He alleged that the federal government wanted to make decisions unilaterally and expected other stakeholders to accept them.
“If terrorism and peace were an issue … you should have imposed an emergency in Balochistan first,” he said.
Meanwhile, PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that the party would challenge the federal government’s decision to impose emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP in the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday.
He said the party would also decide on its protest strategy in Parliament during a parliamentary party meeting scheduled for the same day.
“We will raise our voice at every forum. Our long march and protest are ongoing,” Gohar said, adding that the PTI would not accept the measures.
Referring to October 11, when the decision was announced, he said the day would be remembered as a “black day” in Pakistan’s democratic history.
Gohar alleged that a provincial government with a two-thirds majority had been dismissed and that the chief minister and other party leaders were in custody. He also criticised the holding of an apex committee meeting under what he described as a controversial chairmanship.
He said the people of KP had also rejected the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in the province.
