THE proclamation of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Governor’s rule on October 11, 2026 has engaged the various segments of the society in a debate on the question of its legitimacy. Broadly speaking these segments can be divided into two camps: One is Anti-Emergency Camp and other is Pro-Emergency Camp. The first camp hailing mainly from opposition parties like JUI (F), ANP and PTI in itself criticized the proclamation of emergency as an unconstitutional move by ousting a provincial government led by a political party with an absolute majority. PTI-led government has lost its legitimacy on different grounds. However, the concept of legitimacy needs to be understood.
Legitimacy builds on obedience of people. No doubt, the PTI gained legitimacy through a constitutional political and electoral process and majority of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chose it in lieu of other political parties. PTI-led government dashed the legitimate expectations of its electors to the ground and lost legitimacy among them. First, PTI lost its legitimacy due to split into two broad camps (Ali Amin’s Camp and Sohail Afridi’s Camp) in addition to other minor factions that is reflected on the eve of passage of Annual Budget in KP Provincial Assembly and also in Senate elections. Both Ali Amin’s regime and Sohail Afridi’s regime exploited the sentiments of the people for protests and attacks on Federal Capital on the pretext of release of their Chieftain Imran Khan.
Both regimes became notorious for malpractices and mal-governance across the province and least bothered about security of the people, especially of Southern KP. Likewise, Meena Khan Afridi, Shafi Jan and Shahid Khattak sidelined the rest of PTI senior leadership. This club sponsored Shohail Afridi’s camp of ISF by replacing Pro-Ali Amin’s ISF camp and divided Insaf Youth Wing. Such faction-oriented politics created severe desperation among Insafian Youth and ultimately PTI lost its legitimacy among its own youth which it claimed its major support base. Second, it also lost legitimacy among security forces especially among Police in District Bannu and Lakki Marwat; failed to securitise constitutional personal security of the common man. Third, both regimes were found in politics of power monopolization by curtailing Provincial Governor’s powers, especially pertaining to universities and powers of KP Police by making it toothless.
Fourth, PTI weakened universities in respect of poor administration, financial management and discipline. Fifth, Dr Nousherwan Burki’s absolute authority devastated health sector institutions and created frustration among doctors, especially young doctors. Sixth, it also violated constitutional provision in relation to withholding fund to local government institutions by curtailing its financial powers. Seventh, political duplicity also tarnished its public image by entering into political alliance with those rival political parties that remained the part of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in ousting Imran Khan from the office of Prime Minister and also dissolution of KP, Baluchistan and Gilgit-Baltistan Assemblies. JUI (F) leader Maulana Fazal Rehman led PDM; while Mahmood Khan Achakzai was Vice-President of PDM.
The latter was nominated and elected as their Opposition Leader. In addition, it also opened doors to enter into parlance with provincial and national leadership of PML (N), ANP, JUI (F), PPP and PML (N) during Senate elections. Eight, if ousting Imran Khan’s regime by Maulana Fazal Rehman, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and others and replacing with their own kith and kin on different positions was legitimate; then how the implementation of Constitutional Emergency Provisions is unlawful for them. Maulana Fazal Rehman on the floor of the House confessed and declared Southern KP as No-Go-Areas and no writ of the PTI-led government in the province. This raised serious question that should there be a security vacuum by leaving people of KP at the mercy of God? Ninth, political parties’ unabated criticism against Pakistan security forces and its leadership in such odd times is highly deplorable by ignoring our forces’ active engagement against internal and external enemies.
Such criticism is the gross violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. Tenth, political corruption gained impetus by awarding portfolios like Advisors, Special Assistant, Parliamentary Secretaries. It also started to get perks and privileges by introducing legislation in KP Provincial Assembly at the cost of bread and butter of poor tax-payers. Speaker’s role is deplorable because Speaker’s House became the hub of political activities. The war of words within the rank of PTI and persistent criticism of involvement of national and local leadership of PTI in corruption also demoralized the voters. Lastly, it promoted Non-Parliamentary and unethical in KP Provincial Assembly and led society to moral degradation.
Keeping in view these factors, the Federal Government, Security Engineers, Armed Forces Leadership and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have left no option except to invoke Constitutional Emergency Provisions in the best national interest. The failure of the Provincial Constitutional Machinery, security dynamics, an immaturity of political behaviour of PTI leadership and mal-governance in addition to multiple social and economic factors led to Proclamation of Emergency in the province as a legitimate step. Better late than never is a right proverb to apply here.
—The writer is Chairman & Security Expert, Department of Political Science, Islamia College Peshawar.