Pakistan Imposes Emergency, Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

rki.news | Source: Dawn News
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government on Sunday imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal cabinet’s recommendations under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
The decision followed an emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the province’s security situation. The Prime Minister’s Office said the cabinet cited the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism” as a key reason for recommending the measures.
Following presidential approval, the federal government appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as KP chief secretary with immediate effect, according to an official notification. Irfan, a Grade 22 Pakistan Administrative Service officer, previously served as secretary of the Power Division.
The move comes amid growing tensions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government over counterterrorism policy, military operations and engagement with Afghanistan.
The KP government has previously called for consultation before launching military operations and urged the federal government to prioritise negotiations with Afghanistan. Disagreements over security policy also contributed to the breakdown of talks between the two governments earlier this month.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan strongly condemned the decision, calling it undemocratic and warning that it would undermine provincial rights. He urged the federal government to reconsider the move, saying peace could not be established by weakening provincial autonomy.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, meanwhile, called for unity to open a new chapter in the province’s development.
Internet disruptions were reported in parts of Peshawar, while increased police deployment and road barriers were also observed. Sources said mobile data services had been slowed or suspended in selected areas, but no province-wide shutdown was reported.