Govt minister confirms KP CM, cabinet members in ‘preventive custody’

Islamabad has confirmed that politicians from former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party were placed in "preventive custody" following the suspension of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government under emergency rule, announced by President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday. The suspension of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was attributed to the party's inability to address terrorism in the province, situated along the Afghanistan border.

Khan's party dismissed this claim, alleging the move was intended to prevent supporters from marching to Islamabad to pressure the government for Khan's release.

The emergency rule came one week after Khan's supporters held days of rallies, preparing to march to Islamabad in support of his release and medical treatment. According to Minister Talal Chaudhry, the chief minister and some cabinet members have indeed been taken into preventive custody. Those with pending legal cases will face charges and trials, while others will be released.

The detentions occurred at the KP chief minister's residence in Peshawar, where the area was secured by a heavy police presence, paramilitary forces, and shipping containers.

Khan's aide, Shaukat Yousafzai, denounced the detentions and demanded their immediate release. Three of his sisters and hundreds of his supporters were also arrested prior to the planned march. The party's most recent large-scale protest two years ago resulted in violent clashes with security forces and Khan's 2023 arrest, which triggered nationwide riots and led to his capture, sparking attacks on military installations.

Under Pakistan's constitution, the government can assume control of a province during an emergency. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar stated that KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would assume control following President Zardari's declaration of a state of emergency. The province has witnessed an uptick in militant attacks in recent months, with the federal government blaming Khan's PTI for failing to curb terrorism.

This accusation the party denies. Despite several rounds of talks between the government and PTI since the march call, the government insisted on one condition: the party must publicly condemn terrorism and join the fight against it. The PTI refused, leading to the breakdown of negotiations.