KP Emergency: Governor's Rule Imposed in Khyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan

The proclamation cites what it calls an extraordinary increase in terrorist incidents and violent activities in the province as the reason for the emergency, stating that the attacks pose serious threats to the lives and property of the public. It further states that attacks by militants on infrastructure, government installations and law enforcement agencies have increased, and claims that the provincial government failed to address these threats effectively.

According to the proclamation, a report by the K-P governor identified a failure of the constitutional system in the province, adding that the situation had moved beyond the control of the provincial government. It describes the situation as a threat not only to K-P but also to Pakistan’s overall security.

Under the measures outlined in the proclamation, the federal government may direct the K-P governor to assume all or some of the provincial government’s powers, while the powers of the K-P Assembly are to be exercised by Parliament or a body authorised by it. Under the notification, the K-P chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general immediately ceased to hold their offices.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told a news conference in Islamabad that the governor would initially be in place for six months but could stay for as long as needed. He said the constitution allows the government to take over from provincial authorities during an emergency. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the situation was so grave that residents in some districts were not coming out of their homes after evening, according to reports.

The federal government also issued a formal order authorising the deployment of army troops to assist the civil administration under Article 245 of the Constitution for the period covered by the proclamation. The K-P governor, in consultation with the General Headquarters’ Directorate of Military Operations, will determine the number of troops and resources to be deployed.

The federal government also appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan, a Grade-22 Pakistan Administrative Service officer previously serving as Power Division secretary, as the new K-P chief secretary.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which led the provincial government, rejected the federal government’s charge and said Islamabad had failed to provide it with the funding and equipment it needed to fight militancy, according to Reuters. The party described the move as a coup disguised as an emergency. The escalation comes about a week after PTI supporters gathered in the province intending to march on Islamabad to demand the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.