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Pakistan’s federal government has declared an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid a worsening security situation and ongoing protests by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the declaration on Sunday (October 11) at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to local media reports.
The decision came after a federal cabinet meeting at which the prime minister was briefed on the province’s security situation. Cabinet members reportedly urged Sharif to ask the president to invoke Articles 232 and 233 of the Constitution to impose the emergency.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which won the provincial election and formed the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been leading a campaign demanding his release from prison. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has been at the forefront of the movement, including a long march launched on October 5 towards Islamabad.
The march, however, has remained confined to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has yet to reach the federal capital.
Khan was ousted as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in 2022 and arrested in 2023. He is currently serving prison sentences in multiple cases. The PTI has been demanding his release, citing concerns over his health.
According to Dawn, Sharif told the cabinet meeting that he would not allow the PTI to destroy the country’s economy.
The emergency declaration is expected to restrict political activities and curtail certain fundamental rights. Reports said the move would also pave the way for governor’s rule in the province, potentially removing the PTI-led government from power.
Source: Dawn
