Zardari declares emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stripping PTI of power

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 11 October 2026, suspending the provincial government led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The declaration strips the elected administration of executive powers as thousands of PTI supporters march toward Islamabad demanding Khan's release from prison.kashmirlife.net

The emergency marks a direct federal takeover of a province governed by the opposition, escalating a standoff between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government and PTI. Unlike previous political crises resolved through negotiation, this move uses constitutional emergency provisions to remove an elected government from office while a protest march, led by the province's own chief minister, advances on the capital.theweek.in

Why the emergency was declared

The presidential declaration invokes Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan's Constitution, which permit emergency rule in a province after consultation with the federal government. The stated grounds are a rise in terrorist attacks and the provincial administration's alleged failure to tackle militancy. The federal cabinet reviewed the situation before Zardari signed Sharif's advice, according to a statement from the president's office.

The advice from Sharif's government said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had failed to fight Islamist militancy, according to a statement from Sharif's office. A separate statement said the cabinet noted the "provincial government's deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism." The decision also followed the collapse of talks between PTI and the federal government over the party's planned demonstration in Islamabad.outlookindia.com

The order directs the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general to relinquish their offices, effectively removing the elected administration from its executive functions. Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the powers previously exercised by the chief minister have been transferred to the governor, according to Radio Pakistan.

How power was transferred

Tarar said an 11-member advisory council had been formed to work under the governor and oversee government affairs. A separate secretariat under the governor and the chief secretary was established to administer affairs in 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that would come directly under the federal government. The federal government appointed Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as chief secretary, effective immediately.trtworld.com

Tarar also said the federal government ordered the deployment of Pakistan Army troops to assist the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor in maintaining law and order under Article 245 of the Constitution. The province borders Afghanistan, and the emergency grants the federal government sweeping powers under constitutional articles that allow the central government to confront security threats.

PTI spokesman Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide to Khan, labelled the decision a "ridiculous decision," claiming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the country's "only legitimately elected government." He said the move "will only lead to further bloodshed, instability and collateral damage," and that there had always been space for dialogue but the decision showed negotiations were never the federal government's intention.

PTI rejects the militancy charge

The ruling government also accused PTI of sympathising with the Tehrik-e-Taliban, a militant group. PTI rejected the accusation as a baseless smear campaign. Khan has been in prison since 2023 in connection with corruption and other cases, which PTI maintains are politically motivated, though the government denies this. He served as prime minister from 2018 until his removal in a no-confidence vote in April 2022.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who led the protest march, was arrested after the emergency was declared, a lawmaker said. The province's party president was also arrested, according to PTI leader Junaid Akbar. The march began in Lakki Marwat on 4 October and has travelled through several districts. Authorities placed shipping containers and roadblocks at entry points to Islamabad to restrict movement toward the capital.

The march was originally scheduled for 27 September but was postponed to 4 October. PTI supporters demand Khan's release and access to medical treatment. The president's office has not specified how the province would be administered beyond the governor's new powers and the advisory council. The emergency remains in effect as the protest march continues toward Islamabad.