Pakistan: President puts Khan stronghold province under emergency rule

Pakistan has declared emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following weeks of anti-government protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and rising militant violence in the northwest. The move, authorized under two articles of the constitution, grants the federal government extensive administrative powers over the province.

President Asif Ali Zardari signed the order after recommendations regarding the deteriorating security situation and the failure of negotiations with government delegations, according to his office. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office cited the province's declining law and order situation and the local government's negligence in the war against terrorism as reasons for the decision.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a strongholds of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, will be sidelined under the extraordinary constitutional measures. The PTI chairman, Gohar Ali Khan, denounced the move as an "extremely alarming and grave political mistake and undemocratic measure," vowing that the people will not accept such actions against their rights.

Security forces increased their presence in Peshawar, the provincial capital, and closed roads in other cities. Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023 and faces multiple charges, denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated. The government initially sought to avoid the opposition's show of force but later linked the negotiations on PTI demands to security measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The protests, which began a week ago, are demanding Khan's release, access to his medical care, and addressing anti-government criticism fueled by economic hardships. Meanwhile, Pakistan has blamed militant activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southern Balochistan province on insurgents originating from Afghanistan. The Taliban government in Kabul denies these allegations and accuses Pakistan of violating Afghanistan's sovereignty and causing civilian casualties.

The tensions have escalated into a bitter dispute and occasional armed clashes between the neighboring countries, following a brief war in February, which ended with a ceasefire in March after no lasting security resolution was achieved.