Pakistan has imposed a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , suspending the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, with the federal government citing rising “Islamist militancy and a deteriorating law and order situation”.
The federal government said the provincial administration had failed to tackle militancy in the province bordering Afghanistan, which has witnessed an increase in militant attacks in recent months, Reuters reported. President Asif Ali Zardari declared the emergency on Sunday on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif , following a cabinet decision.
Why the government cited militancy
The declaration was preceded by a summary of the province’s security situation sent to Zardari by Sharif earlier in the day, Bloomberg reported. The move comes amid escalating tensions between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government ahead of a planned protest demanding his release. Pakistan’s constitution allows the federal government to take over from provincial authorities during an emergency. The emergency comes as Khan’s party prepares for a protest march towards Islamabad to demand his release. PTI supporters gathered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last week after talks with the government broke down over demands that included access to the jailed former prime minister. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the JUI-F political party who has been engaged by the government to mediate with PTI, also criticised the move.
The declaration was made under Article 232, which allows the president to impose emergency measures in the event of a threat of war, external aggression or an internal disturbance beyond a provincial government’s ability to control.
The federal cabinet had held an urgent meeting to review what Sharif’s office described as the deteriorating law and order situation and the provincial government’s “deliberate indifference in the war against terrorism”. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a provincial governor would take charge of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for an initial period of six months, though the arrangement could continue for as long as necessary. The interior ministry also said troops would be deployed in the province. “Imposition of emergency is an ambush on democracy,” he said at a news conference in Islamabad, Reuters reported.
Earlier reporting noted: Thousands of Khan’s supporters have been marching across the province, demanding his release and voicing criticism of the government amid mounting economic hardships. Earlier reporting noted: The emergency measures, invoked under two provisions of Pakistan’s Constitution concerning security, grant the federal government extensive administrative powers over the province. Earlier reporting noted: Pakistan declares emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid ex-PM Imran Khan supporters protest; provincial government ceases to exist Pakistan imposed emergency rule in its northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, the President’s Office said, following anti-government protests by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and violence involving armed groups in the country’s northwest.
