The federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recommended the intervention following a review of the deteriorating security situation in the province. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the move was necessitated by the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism and concerns over law and order. President Zardari confirmed his approval of the cabinet’s recommendations via a social media post.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar defended the decision at a press conference, accusing the PTI-led provincial administration of maintaining links with militant groups. “PTI government in KP is hand in glove with terrorists and has an unholy alliance with terrorists,” Tarar said. He further alleged, citing intelligence bureau and law enforcement reports, that terrorist elements had significant influence over the administration of certain districts. The federal government authorized the deployment of Pakistan Army troops and assets to the province to assist civilian authorities in managing the security crisis.
The administrative pivot comes as tensions between the PTI and the federal government have escalated in recent days. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which shares a border with Afghanistan, has experienced repeated militant attacks. Proponents of the emergency rule argue that the provincial government’s inaction has compromised national security. The PTI has frequently clashed with the federal establishment, and this decision is expected to deepen the political standoff.
In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, internet disruptions were reported in parts of Peshawar. Sources in the telecommunications sector indicated that mobile network and data services were slowed or suspended in selected areas of several cities, though no province-wide shutdown of digital services had been formally announced. The federal government has not yet provided detailed specifications regarding the duration of the emergency or the specific administrative changes that will follow the implementation of governor’s rule.
The political context surrounding the move is charged by ongoing protests. PTI supporters had been gathering in the province ahead of a planned march to Islamabad to demand the release of Imran Khan. In the lead-up to the emergency declaration, hundreds of PTI supporters, including Khan’s sisters, were reportedly arrested in connection with the planned demonstrations. The suspension of the elected provincial government is likely to be contested in the courts, although no immediate legal challenges were confirmed at the time of the announcement.
The imposition of governor’s rule shifts executive authority in the province to the federally appointed governor, bypassing the elected chief minister. This constitutional mechanism is typically invoked when a provincial government is deemed unable or unwilling to maintain law and order. The decision marks a significant escalation in the political conflict between the federal coalition and Imran Khan’s opposition party.
