Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police have taken eight prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders into protective custody following the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency. Among those detained are former KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, according to provincial police officials. Additionally, police confirmed that PTI Provincial President Junaid Akbar is also among the detained political leaders. The dramatic administrative action follows the official dismissal of the elected provincial government under executive orders issued from Islamabad.
This political crackdown occurred immediately after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary imposing emergency rule and governor’s rule across the province. President Zardari took the formal action on the direct advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif over security and political concerns. Following the dissolution of executive provincial authority, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi assumed direct governance over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Consequently, the governor will manage provincial affairs with the support of a newly constituted eleven-member advisory council.
To assess the rapidly evolving security situation, Governor Kundi scheduled an emergency meeting of the KP Apex Committee for today. The high-level security meeting will review law and order across all administrative districts following the political changes. Provincial security forces remain on high alert to maintain public order and prevent potential political unrest. Meanwhile, police officials emphasized that detentions were executed to maintain stability and prevent any escalation of violence across major cities.
Political analysts note that the arrest of senior leadership leaves PTI’s provincial organizational structure significantly weakened in its core stronghold. The party now faces immense challenges in organizing political resistance or legal challenges against the imposition of emergency rule. Furthermore, federal authorities have reinforced security deployments around vital government installations and major transit routes across Peshawar. Law enforcement agencies continue monitoring political movements closely to ensure overall public safety during the transition period.