The Prime Minister’s Office stated that cabinet members reviewed the security situation in the province and noted the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.” Citing the gravity of the situation, the cabinet proposed that the Prime Minister advise the president to exercise his constitutional authority to impose these provisions. President Asif Ali Zardari subsequently approved the recommendations, effectively transferring administrative control to the provincial governor and authorizing the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in aid of civil power.
Article 232 of the Constitution permits the president to declare a state of emergency if the security of Pakistan or any part of the country is threatened by war, external aggression, or internal disturbances that provincial authorities are unable to handle. If the president acts independently, such a proclamation must be approved by both houses of parliament within 10 days. During this period, parliament may legislate for the province on matters not included in the federal legislative list, and certain fundamental rights may be suspended under Article 233. Article 234 specifically addresses the breakdown of constitutional machinery in a province, requiring a request from the provincial governor for the imposition of governor’s rule.
Immediate consequences of the decision have been felt in the province. Reports indicate that internet disruptions and slowdowns in mobile data services were observed in parts of Peshawar and other selected areas, though officials denied a province-wide shutdown. On the ground, heavy police deployments were noted, and shipping containers were placed to block several roads in Peshawar. The federal government’s authorization of military assets in aid of civil power underscores the severity with which the central government views the security challenges in the region.
The imposition of these measures has intensified tensions between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led KP government, which is currently in opposition at the federal level. The two sides have been at odds over counterterrorism policy, a key factor in the breakdown of talks on October 3. Prime Minister Sharif stated that he would not allow the PTI-led provincial government to destabilize the country’s economy and addressed the deaths of civilians and security personnel in KP and Balochistan. He also reiterated Pakistan’s repeated calls for Afghanistan to restrain terrorist elements operating from its territory.
The PTI has condemned the federal government’s actions, arguing that peace cannot be established by “weakening provincial autonomy.” The party claims it has been excluded from security decisions concerning KP, a charge the federal government has denied. Previously, in July 2024, the KP Assembly had passed a resolution urging the federal government to consult with provincial authorities before launching new military operations. The current intervention represents a significant constitutional escalation in the dispute between Islamabad and Peshawar over the management of terrorism and security policy in the province.
