Pakistan has entered a new phase of political uncertainty after President Asif Ali Zardari declared an emergency in its region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), suspended the provincial government in the region which was led by Imean Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and placed the province under federal oversight.
Pakistan has also formally authorised the deployment of Army troops and resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 245 following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
According to top security sources, the plan to impose an emergency, introduce governor’s rule and deploy troops was allegedly planned by Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir.
The decision was followed by reports of detentions involving PTI leaders and the house arrest of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, escalating tensions between the federal government and the opposition party led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Why is the Pakistan Army in Khyber?
According to reports in India Today, Imran Khan’s PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been opposing and challenging Army Chief Asim Munir’s writ in the province.
The Army chief Asim Munir is widely considered the current Defacto head of Pakistan and has been reported to be the prime reason behind the imprisonment of Imran Khan. The current government of Shehbaz Sharif is widely called as a puppet government with no real authority.
However the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region still remains fiercely loyal to the jailed Imran Khan and the leader of the province is also from his PTI party. Since Khan’s arrest his party leaders have been consistently calling for his release and have continued to defy the diktats of the Army Chief.
The sources further claimed that Pakistan wants absolute control over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mines and minerals. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the PTI government had allegedly opposed the Pakistan military’s direct involvement in matters related to mines and minerals and their legislation.
With emergency and governor’s rule now in place, the Pakistan military could have greater control over affairs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the sources claimed.
Emergency Declared, Provincial Government Suspended
President Zardari approved the emergency following a recommendation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal cabinet.
Pakistan’s Law Minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, said the emergency was imposed under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The provincial administration’s powers have been transferred to the governor, supported by an advisory council, with the arrangement initially expected to last six months.
The decision effectively removes PTI’s provincial government from executive control, creating a major confrontation between Islamabad and the party that governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Former Chief Minister Under House Arrest, PTI Leaders Detained
The emergency announcement was followed by action against prominent PTI figures. According to reports, former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was placed under house arrest by police in Dera Ismail Khan.
The report also said Sohail Afridi, identified in the report as the former chief minister following the change in provincial administration, and provincial PTI president Junaid Akbar were detained. These developments have intensified concerns about the political future of the party’s leadership in the province.
PTI leaders have condemned the actions, describing them as an attempt to weaken the party and restrict its political activities. The reported detentions come amid preparations for demonstrations demanding Imran Khan’s release.
Imran Khan’s Release Campaign Adds to Tensions
The crisis comes as PTI supporters prepare to march towards Islamabad to demand the release of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023.
Khan remains a central figure in Pakistan’s political conflict. His party and supporters have alleged that legal proceedings against him are politically motivated and that the 2024 election process was unfair. The military has denied allegations that it rigged the election.
The federal government has sought to prevent protesters from entering Islamabad, with authorities blocking major routes using shipping containers and deploying additional security personnel.
The emergency declaration has therefore taken place against the backdrop of an already tense political environment, with protests, arrests and failed negotiations adding to the confrontation.
PTI Rejects Emergency Rule
PTI has strongly opposed the suspension of its provincial government. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan argued that the decision undermines provincial autonomy and the constitutional rights of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Party spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari described the move as a “coup disguised as emergency,” warning that it could increase instability and the risk of further confrontation.
The federal government, however, maintains that the worsening security situation requires intervention. The two sides thus offer sharply different explanations for the same decision: Islamabad presents it as a security measure, while PTI views it as an attack on its political mandate.
The emergency now raises constitutional questions about the limits of federal authority, provincial autonomy and the procedures governing emergency rule. Its implementation and any subsequent legal challenges will be important in determining how the crisis develops.
Pakistan’s emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marks a significant escalation in the country’s political confrontation. The federal government says intervention is necessary to address militancy, while PTI argues that suspending its elected provincial administration undermines democratic representation and provincial autonomy.
With Imran Khan still imprisoned, PTI leaders facing detention and supporters pressing ahead with demands for his release, the situation remains uncertain. With the Army now stepping things are bound to heat up, if the Pathans in the region are targeted expect the Taliban and Afghanistan to take it extremely seriously. The region may soon turn into a tinderbox with a big confrontation looming.
