PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Pakistan has enacted governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following approval from President Asif Ali Zardari based on the federal cabinet’s advice. This move shifts control of the provincial government from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf administration to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the cabinet meeting that sanctioned the action. Authorities cited deteriorating security and issues with counterterrorism coordination as reasons. The northwestern province borders Afghanistan and has experienced repeated militant assaults.
The government invoked Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution to justify the intervention. Article 232 permits emergency measures during serious internal unrest threatening security. Article 234 authorizes federal intervention when a provincial government cannot operate under constitutional rules. During governor’s rule, the governor assumes authority over provincial executive functions. Parliament can also exercise powers normally held by the provincial legislature. The constitutional framework does not transfer judicial authority to the federal government.
Governor Kundi has taken charge of provincial administration with help from an advisory council. The administration manages portfolios such as finance, law, health, education, and internal security. The federal authorities appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam as the province’s chief secretary. Kundi called on residents to maintain order and avoid violence during the transition. Security forces increased deployments near key government buildings and sensitive sites in Peshawar after the measures started.
Federal government authorizes military support
Pakistan’s federal authorities also authorized army personnel and military resources to aid civilian agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Interior Ministry issued this approval under Article 245 of the Constitution. The order covers protecting residents, public property, and vital government facilities during the emergency. Provincial officials will coordinate troop requirements with military leaders. Police and other security agencies continue supporting public order efforts while the governor oversees the administration.
This move follows extended political tensions between the federal government and PTI over security policies and other national issues. Negotiations between the two sides broke down earlier in October. Supporters of PTI later protested, demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. Khan has been in prison since August 2023 and faces multiple criminal cases. PTI rejects the charges against him and has repeatedly called for his release.
PTI contests the removal of provincial leadership
PTI leaders condemned the governor’s rule and accused federal authorities of overriding the elected provincial government. Party chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that reducing provincial autonomy would not solve Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security issues. Senior PTI figure Zulfiqar Bukhari also criticized federal intervention. Former Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had opposed emergency measures before the cabinet’s approval. PTI has rejected federal criticisms of its counterterrorism efforts and disputes claims that its administration failed to cooperate.
President Zardari approved the measures after receiving the cabinet’s recommendation from Prime Minister Sharif’s government. Federal officials based their decision on security reports, political developments, and concerns about coordination with the provincial government. Governor Kundi now manages provincial executive affairs under the constitutional framework. The army’s authorization remains linked to the emergency and governor’s rule. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue operating under the governor-led administration while the federal measures stay in effect.