Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
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Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian shaking hands with Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud after a meeting with the Pakistani army chief and the Turkish intelligence chief in Tehran on October 26, 2026.
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Turkey’s Defence Minister Yasar Guler, Secretary of Turkish Defence Industries Haluk Gorgun, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Thani, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Indonesia’s Deputy Defense Minister for Logistics, Defense Industry, and Technology Yusuf Jauhari attend a signing ceremony in Doha, Qatar, on October 21, 2026. Photo: Turkish Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters

File image of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman
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Pakistan’s parliament on Thursday (October 15, 2026) endorsed the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province previously governed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Opposition lawmakers protested during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate, carrying placards with slogans such as “Emergency na manzoor” (Emergency is unacceptable).

The Shehbaz Sharif government on October 11 imposed emergency and governor’s rule in the province, citing the provincial government’s alleged disengagement from counterterrorism efforts amid rising militant violence.

The move followed weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after the party announced a long march to Islamabad demanding the release of its jailed founder, Khan, and pressing for access to him in prison and his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine him.

The federal intervention effectively displaced the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government.

During Thursday’s (October 15, 2026) joint sitting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry moved a motion under Rule 232 of the Parliament (Joint Sitting) Rules, 1973, seeking the suspension of certain sub-rules.

He subsequently presented two resolutions, one concerning the proclamation of emergency under Article 232 of the Constitution and the other concerning governor’s rule under Article 234.

Both resolutions were passed after a debate involving treasury and opposition members, according to a statement by the National Assembly.

The development followed separate sittings of the National Assembly and the Senate on Wednesday (October 14, 2026), when both Houses passed resolutions endorsing the imposition of emergency in the province.

However, the separate resolutions were not sufficient to approve the governor’s rule, which required the endorsement of a joint sitting of parliament.

Under Article 234 of the Constitution, a proclamation of governor’s rule ceases to be in force after two months unless approved by a joint sitting of parliament. It may be extended in periods of two months, subject to a maximum of six months.

Separately, a resolution endorsing the federal government’s intervention was submitted in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday (October 15, 2026) by the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) chief whip Rana Muhammad Arshad.

The resolution cited deteriorating law and order, rising terrorism and the need to protect citizens’ lives and property as grounds for the intervention.

It commended Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for placing national security and the state’s writ above political considerations, arguing that the government should not shy away from extraordinary measures for fear of political repercussions.

It maintained that the intervention was based on official data, reports from security agencies and ground realities, while stressing that any extraordinary measures required to restore peace must be taken in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

The resolution also expressed hope that the federal government’s measures would curb terrorism, restore the writ of state institutions and bring lasting peace and normalcy to the province.

It presented the intervention as a matter of collective national responsibility rather than a confrontation between rival political parties.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has long faced militant violence, including attacks by the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The province has been a major centre of militant activity amid a wider deterioration in Pakistan’s security situation.

Amnesty International has raised concerns over reports of arbitrary detentions of political leaders and internet disruptions in the province.

In a statement on Monday (October 12, 2026), the rights organisation warned that emergency measures must not be used to suppress dissent or concentrate power and called for independent oversight of actions taken under the emergency framework.

The federal government has defended its intervention as necessary to improve counterterrorism efforts and restore order, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has opposed the suspension of its provincial government.

Lawmakers from the government and opposition debated the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Thursday’s (October 15, 2026) joint sitting of Pakistan’s parliament.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government had been left with “no option” but to take the step, while opposition leaders rejected allegations that the provincial government supported militancy.

Mr. Naqvi urged the opposition to stick to the facts while recounting the dialogue with the government, saying the ruling coalition had tried until the last moment to avoid imposing emergency and governor’s rule.

The Minister accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of not accompanying the army during operations against militants, alleging that the Chief Minister had cited the political cost of doing so.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the country was going through a “very fragile situation” and rejected allegations that the party or its provincial government supported terrorists.

“The Prime Minister has alleged that we are supporting terrorists. We are disappointed to hear that. You have to apologise to the entire population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and us,” Mr. Gohar said.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai blamed what he called “faulty decisions” by the country’s rulers for the current situation. He said the opposition was ready for talks on strengthening parliament and eradicating terrorism, and would offer unconditional support if discussions focused on those issues.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq objected to Mr. Achakzai’s criticism of his conduct of the proceedings, citing parliamentary rules and disruptions in the House. Mr. Sadiq also said recordings of members’ speeches deemed “anti-state” would not be uploaded on the National Assembly’s social media accounts.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas accused the government’s delegation of derailing talks with the opposition, including the October 3 negotiations. The Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief said more time should have been allowed for the talks to succeed and called for addressing public concerns instead of trading accusations.

On October 3, talks between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s to avert the party’s planned October 4 march to Islamabad ended in deadlock, with disagreements over counterterrorism cooperation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and access to jailed Imran Khan.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to clarify the agenda and purpose of its planned march to Islamabad, which had remained within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

She said President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari favoured dialogue but considered terrorism a red line, and urged the opposition not to lecture the government on patriotism.

The PPP is part of the coalition in charge of the federal government alongside the PML(N) led by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and his brother Nawaz.

Published – October 16, 2026 11:14 am IST

Pakistan on Sunday (October 11, 2026) declared an emergency in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the deteriorating law and order situation, bringing the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party to an end.

An emergency allows Pakistan’s federal government to assume key executive and legislative powers in a province during a security crisis or breakdown of constitutional governance.

Pakistan security forces kill 18 terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan

President Asif Ali Zardari issued a proclamation under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, citing rising terrorist attacks and a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the northwestern province, according to the presidential declaration. Under the proclamation, the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general will immediately vacate their offices.

The move comes amid an ongoing protest march led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is pressing for Imran Khan’s release and access to medical treatment for him. The march began in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and has passed through several districts of the province.

Mr. Afridi on Saturday (October 10, 2026) vowed to continue peaceful protests and rejected military operations as a solution to the province’s problems. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party had initially planned to take the march to Islamabad for a sit-in, but the federal government said it would not allow protesters to enter the capital.

The presidential declaration on Sunday (October 11, 2026) said the emergency was imposed in view of rising terrorist incidents and the grave law and order situation in the province.

“The extraordinary intensity of terrorist incidents poses serious threats to the lives and property of the public,” the declaration stated.

It cited an increase in attacks on government installations, infrastructure and law enforcement agencies, accusing the provincial government of failing to demonstrate the resolve and take the measures needed to curb terrorism and lawlessness.

The declaration said a report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had highlighted a breakdown of constitutional machinery and the provincial government’s inability to function in accordance with the Constitution.

Under the proclamation, the federal government may direct the provincial governor to assume all or some functions of the provincial government. The governor may also exercise powers of other provincial institutions and officials, including those of the Provincial Assembly, as directed by the federal government.

The powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be exercised by Parliament or under its authority, according to the declaration, which took effect immediately.

The federal cabinet endorsed the emergency proposal earlier on Sunday after a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the worsening security situation.

The Cabinet said the provincial government had deliberately disengaged from the fight against terrorism and recommended that the prime minister advise the president to impose an emergency.

“The Cabinet recommended that the Prime Minister advise the President to exercise his constitutional authority and impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan, given the gravity of the situation,” an official statement said.

Sources said the cabinet decided to pursue the move after exploring other options, including a last-ditch effort to engage the provincial government through mediation by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). The efforts failed to yield a breakthrough, they said.

Earlier, Mr. Sharif told the Cabinet that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not doing enough to tackle terrorism and called for decisive action.

“The KP government is not saying a word against militancy… It is time to take a decision as we have reached a moment of now or never,” he said.

Mr. Sharif said the law and order situation was deteriorating and accused the provincial government led by Khan’s party of failing to address the threat. He added that the federal government had provided at least PKR 800 billion to the province over the past 10 years to fight terrorism and improve security, but the situation had not improved.

The party’s key demands include an immediate meeting with Khan, access for his personal doctors, the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, a proper medical check-up for his wife, Bushra Bibi, and hearings in their cases without interference.

Mr. Khan, the 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, has been incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, including corruption and charges related to inciting violence.

The long march followed the failure of two rounds of talks between Mr. Khan’s party and the federal government. The discussions broke down over the party’s demand for access to Mr. Khan before calling off the protest, while the government insisted that the demonstration be ended first.

The federal government had warned that protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad, where security was tightened and roads along the planned route blocked with shipping containers.

Published – October 11, 2026 02:41 pm IST

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