Achakzai draws Balochistan parallel as he flays Centre over governor's rule in KP

National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai has compared the imposition of emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) to the situation in Balochistan. The federal government recently placed K-P under governor's rule in 12 districts, citing the "deliberate disengagement" of the provincial government from the fight against terrorism.

Achakzai criticized the decision, stating that there is no writ of the state in half of Balochistan, but no similar imposition occurs there because the chief minister there is a favorite of the government.

According to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 199 terrorist attacks were recorded in August across Pakistan, with K-P (excluding merged districts) recording 54 and Balochistan recording 89. During the counter-terrorism operations in August, security forces killed 115 terrorists in Balochistan and 56 in mainland K-P.

Achakzai vowed that opposition parties would announce a "democratic struggle" against the move in areas where they have influence, without resorting to violence. He emphasized that imposing emergency and governor's rule in K-P is an "assault on Pakistan's Constitution and democracy" and called on every Pakistani, regardless of their position, to resist this.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan announced his intention to challenge the government's decision in the Peshawar High Court, accusing the government of playing "tricks" to install a new government and hold an advisory council meeting. He also criticized the meeting of the apex committee under the chairmanship of a "controversial" personality and vowed to raise their voice at every forum against the imposition of emergency and governor's rule in K-P.