Pakistan suspends Imran Khan’s party-led government, declares emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari suspended the government led by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the last province under PTI control, and declared a state of emergency due to escalating security concerns. Under the emergency proclamation, the federal government gains control over various provincial powers, including executive and legislative authority.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar outlined the government's intentions to appoint a provincial governor and an advisory council to oversee the region for a six-month period. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi further warned of the dire situation, stating that residents were increasingly reluctant to venture outside their homes after dark in certain districts.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who has been advocating for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and access to medical care, organized a protest in Lakki Marwat, urging the central government to act. Afridi's government has been under fire from Islamabad for its perceived inability to curb militancy in the region, which borders Afghanistan and has witnessed multiple terrorist attacks in recent times.

The PTI Party, however, has contested these claims, asserting that the central government has neglected to provide necessary resources and support to address the militant threat. In the presidential decree, Zardari justified the emergency declaration by citing the alarming frequency of terrorist incidents and the deteriorating security climate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing the urgent need to protect citizens from imminent danger.