Pakistan Imposes Emergency Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has declared a state of emergency and suspended the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

The decision, made on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following a federal cabinet decision, comes amid allegations that the provincial administration failed to tackle rising militancy. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that the provincial governor will take charge with an advisory council for an initial six-month period. The interior ministry is deploying military troops to the northwestern province, which borders Afghanistan and has faced repeated attacks by militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi described the security situation as grave. The PTI has rejected the accusations, claiming the federal government failed to provide necessary funding and equipment. The move intensifies the confrontation between the government and the PTI, which has been rallying for Khan's release and threatening to march on Islamabad. Zulfikar Bukhari, a PTI spokesman, condemned the move as ridiculous and undemocratic. The constitution allows the federal government to take over provincial functions during an emergency.