Pakistan declares state of emergency in province run by Imran Khan's party
Pakistan's president has declared a state of emergency in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, governed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party, and suspended its government. The party calls it a coup, while the federal government cites a failure to tackle Islamist militancy.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency on Sunday, 12 October, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a north-western province bordering Afghanistan, and suspended its government. The province is run by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former prime minister and cricket star Imran Khan. The move sharply escalates the standoff between the party and the federal government.
The president acted on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and after a cabinet decision. The federal government and the military accuse PTI of failing to curb Islamist militants, with attacks in the province rising in recent months. PTI rejects the charge and says Islamabad has not given it the funding and equipment it needs.
Governor and troops
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a governor will take charge of the province for an initial six months, though the term could be extended as long as needed. The interior ministry said troops would be deployed there. Sharif told the cabinet that security forces and citizens had been under attack for two years and the state could not stay a silent spectator. Restrictions have been placed on the movements of Sohail Afridi, the province's previous leader, one of his close aides said.
Reaction
Khan's aide and PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari called the step a coup disguised as an emergency, warning it risked more bloodshed and instability and was meant to stop the protest. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the JUI-F party, who was engaged by the government to mediate with PTI, described the emergency as an ambush on democracy.
A week earlier, PTI supporters gathered in the province intending to march on Islamabad to demand Khan's release. Hundreds of activists and three of Khan's sisters were detained beforehand, in what PTI called one of the strongest crackdowns in years. In Islamabad, the government has deployed tens of thousands of security personnel and lined roads with containers to stop protesters reaching parliament.
Background
Candidates backed by PTI won the most seats in the 2024 election but formed a government only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khan's supporters say the military rigged the vote, which the military denies. The 74-year-old faces cases ranging from state gifts to instigating violence and an alleged unlawful marriage. All but one conviction have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending, and he denies wrongdoing. Islamabad also accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants, a charge Kabul denies.
