Pakistan Declares State of Emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan’s federal government has declared a state of emergency and imposed governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal cabinet’s recommendations on Sunday.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the deteriorating security situation in the province.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the cabinet accused the provincial government of deliberately disengaging from efforts to combat terrorism.
Sharif also expressed concern over attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan that have killed civilians and security personnel. He urged Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to take action against terrorist groups operating in the region.
The emergency measures were approved under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution, providing for emergency powers and governor’s rule in the province.
The move comes amid rising tensions between the federal government and the provincial administration, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan. PTI leaders have condemned the decision, describing it as undemocratic and a threat to provincial autonomy.
