Pakistan on Sunday (October 11, 2026) declared an emergency in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the deteriorating law and order situation, bringing the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party to an end.
Under the proclamation, the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general will immediately vacate their offices. President Asif Ali Zardari issued a proclamation under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, citing rising terrorist attacks and a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the northwestern province, according to the presidential declaration.
Mr. Under the proclamation, the federal government may direct the provincial governor to assume all or some functions of the provincial government. The governor may also exercise powers of other provincial institutions and officials, including those of the Provincial Assembly, as directed by the federal government. Both the provisions were imposed soon after a meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif .
Afridi on Saturday (October 10, 2026) vowed to continue peaceful protests and rejected military operations as a solution to the province’s problems. Earlier reporting noted: As per Pakistan’s Dawn, the action has been taken under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, the President House mentioned in a statement.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party had initially planned to take the march to Islamabad for a sit-in, but the federal government said it would not allow protesters to enter the capital. The declaration said a report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had highlighted a breakdown of constitutional machinery and the provincial government’s inability to function in accordance with the Constitution. The Cabinet said the provincial government had deliberately disengaged from the fight against terrorism and recommended that the prime minister advise the president to impose an emergency. “The Cabinet recommended that the Prime Minister advise the President to exercise his constitutional authority and impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan, given the gravity of the situation,” an official statement said. During the meeting, Sharif was told about the situation in the province. Earlier reporting noted: The Prime Minister Office (PMO) released a statement where it stated that cabinet members analysed the prevailing situation and observed the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.
The federal cabinet endorsed the emergency proposal earlier on Sunday after a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the worsening security situation. Earlier reporting noted: Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ruled by ex-PM Imran Khan’s Party, placed under emergency Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , which was ruled by former Prime Minister Imran Khan ‘s party, was placed under emergency and governor’s rule by President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday.
