ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Sunday imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), citing the deteriorating security situation and the failure of talks with the provincial leadership.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the federal cabinet’s recommendations under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat.
The decision followed an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the security situation in the province.
READ MORE: President, PM discuss political, security situation
The President’s Secretariat said the president had signed the prime minister’s advice regarding the situation in KP.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal cabinet accused the PTI-led provincial administration of deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.
The cabinet cited reports from relevant institutions on law and order, the gravity of the security situation and the failure of negotiations with the KP provincial leadership as grounds for the decision.
The cabinet recommended that the prime minister advises the president to invoke the relevant constitutional provisions to address the situation in the province.
Article 232 of the Constitution empowers the president to proclaim an emergency if the security of Pakistan, or any part of it, is threatened by war, external aggression or internal disturbance beyond the control of a provincial government.
The provision sets out requirements for parliamentary approval and, in cases involving internal disturbances beyond a provincial government’s control, provides for a resolution by the provincial assembly concerned.
During an emergency, Parliament may legislate on matters outside the Federal Legislative List for the affected province.
Provincial assemblies retain their legislative powers, although federal legislation may prevail in the event of a conflict for as long as the relevant federal law remains in force.
Article 234 deals with a failure of constitutional machinery in a province. Subject to the constitutional requirements, the president may assume provincial government functions or direct the governor to exercise them after receiving a report from the provincial governor.
A proclamation under Article 234 must be placed before a joint sitting of Parliament for approval. It expires after two months unless approved and may be extended for further periods of up to two months at a time, subject to a maximum duration of six months.
The formal proclamations, parliamentary approval process and precise division of powers under the new arrangement will determine how the federal intervention is implemented and how long it remains in force.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who belongs to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will oversee the new arrangement.
The government said it would remain in place for an initial period of six months, with the support of an 11-member advisory council.
Addressing the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Sharif accused the KP government of failing to curb terrorism and maintain law and order, warning that no one would be allowed to destabilise Pakistan’s economy.
He said fiscal discipline, controlled inflation, rising remittances and record-high foreign exchange reserves reflected progress in the economy, while targeted fuel subsidies were providing relief to the public.
He accused the PTI, which he said had governed KP for 13 years, of pushing the country towards destruction. He said that despite receiving Rs800 billion for counterterrorism between 2010 and 2026, the provincial government had failed to strengthen counterterrorism forces, upgrade the police or procure essential equipment.
Expressing grief over the deaths of civilians, police and security personnel, women and children in terrorist attacks, the prime minister described the loss of innocent lives as heart-wrenching.
He also criticised what he termed rising lawlessness in the province and the provincial government’s decision to hold a ‘long march’.
Despite the failure of earlier negotiations, PM Sharif said the PML-N and PPP would send a joint delegation to engage with the PTI. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would facilitate further dialogue aimed at resolving political differences through negotiations.
The federal cabinet also discussed Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia. PM Sharif condemned Houthi attacks and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the kingdom, describing the protection of Makkah and Madinah as the collective responsibility of the Ummah.
Referring to Pakistan’s trilateral agreement, the prime minister declared Saudi Arabia’s security a red line and pledged full cooperation to protect the kingdom’s security and stability.
Meanwhile, the federal government announced administrative changes in KP following its decision.
Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan was appointed KP chief secretary, according to an official notification. A BPS-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Dr Irfan was serving as secretary of the Power Division in the federal Ministry of Energy. He hails from Mardan. His appointment took immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders.
In a separate notification, the government placed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada at the disposal of the KP government, also with immediate effect and until further orders. A BPS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Akhunzada was serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. He belongs to Charsadda and has previously held several administrative positions in KP, including additional political agent for North and South Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026