The Peshawar High Court issued a formal notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan on Tuesday regarding ongoing political petitions. A two-member bench heard arguments against the federal government’s imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders filed legal challenges asking the provincial high court to set aside the measures completely. However, federal authorities previously defended the action by citing escalating regional terrorism concerns and lack of provincial operational support. Subsequently, the high court bench adjourned further proceedings on the constitutional matter until November 10.
Read More: Peshawar High Court to hear PTI petitions on October 20
Legal counsel representing the petitioners argued that constitutional emergencies apply primarily during war or external military aggression. The defense team contended that no external war exists within the province to justify invoking emergency powers. Furthermore, lawyers maintained that provincial authorities possessed full constitutional authority to combat local terrorism effectively without federal takeover. Counsel also emphasized that Article 234 applies only when provincial administrative machinery breaks down completely. Therefore, petitioners asserted that local constitutional mechanisms remained fully functional before the sudden federal intervention occurred.
Addressing the courtroom directly, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan detailed severe political grievances against federal executive actions. He claimed that authorities imposed governor’s rule, formed a technocratic advisory council, and transferred thirty-eight deputy commissioners simultaneously. Furthermore, Khan alleged that law enforcement personnel abducted dozens of national and provincial assembly members belonging to his party. He also accused opponents of demolishing local political offices and destroying developmental inauguration plaques across various districts. Consequently, party leadership requested immediate judicial intervention to protect democratic representation and restore constitutional provincial governance.
In a separate courtroom proceeding, the high court addressed emergency recovery petitions involving missing former provincial government officials. A judicial bench issued urgent notices to provincial police and government departments regarding former chief minister Sohail Afridi. Judges ordered relevant authorities to submit detailed official responses about Afridi’s current whereabouts within two business days. Meanwhile, another two-member bench heard combined recovery petitions for the provincial assembly speaker and a senior party leader. Consequently, the court directed law enforcement agencies to submit formal reports regarding both individuals within ten days.
Read More: PHC to hear PTI’s plea against KP emergency on Oct 20
Federal officials continue defending the emergency measures as necessary steps to restore administrative control and regional security. KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi currently oversees provincial administration alongside an eleven-member technocratic advisory body created by federal authorities. However, opposition leadership insists the ongoing federal takeover violates established democratic norms and constitutional state autonomy. Legal experts expect intense courtroom debates when the attorney general submits formal responses ahead of upcoming November hearings. Ultimately, the high court’s final ruling will significantly influence Pakistan’s broader federalist structure and political landscape.