What happened?
On 11 October, Dawn reported that President Asif Ali Zardari imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), invoking Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi was made the leader of the province. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the opposition alliance TTAP condemned the decision as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
On 12 October, federal authorities confirmed that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several provincial leaders had been taken into preventive custody. Meanwhile, security was tightened in Peshawar and Islamabad amid fears of demonstrations linked to PTI’s march.
On 14 October, lawyers in KP boycotted all court proceedings in protest of the move. The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) condemned the “unconstitutional proclamation of emergency and governor’s rule” in KP.
On 15 October, a joint sitting of Parliament approved the emergency and governor’s rule in KP. The federal government alleged links between the PTI and terror outfits, while the TTAP ended negotiations with the government.
On 16 October, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) fixed 20 October for a preliminary hearing of a petition filed by the PTI chairman challenging the emergency rule in KP.
What is the background?
1. The tensions between KP and the federal government
Relations between KP and the federal government have long been shaped by disagreements over security policy, provincial autonomy and resource allocation. Military operations in Swat and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) caused widespread displacement, while the 2018 merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with KP promised stronger constitutional protections and civilian governance. However, the integration of the former tribal districts has brought additional responsibilities without a settled funding arrangement, leaving disputes over federal grants and the province’s share of resources unresolved. The province received PKR 73 billion against a budget allocation of PKR 203 billion during the first ten months of the financial year, worsening the budget shortfall. These tensions also affect local communities, which continue to raise concerns about displacement, delayed compensation, public services and limited consultation over security operations. But Islamabad continues to retain considerable influence over security policy, while provincial institutions bear much of the administrative and social cost. The merger expanded KP’s administrative responsibilities, but disagreements over funding and security authority remain unresolved.
2. PTI’s confrontation with the federation over provincial autonomy, security policy and Imran Khan’s imprisonment
The 18th Constitutional Amendment strengthened provincial autonomy, but national security and defence remain predominantly federal responsibilities. This division has become increasingly contentious since PTI lost power nationally in 2022 while retaining control of KP after the 2024 elections. The dispute extends beyond Imran Khan’s imprisonment to disagreements over counterterrorism operations, provincial decision-making and funding. Islamabad argues that the provincial government has not cooperated adequately with national security institutions. The PTI, on the other hand, maintains that federal intervention undermines its electoral mandate and sidelines provincial authority. The confrontation intensified as Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led a protest march demanding Khan’s release, and negotiations between PTI and the federal government broke down in October 2026. After the federation-imposed emergency and governor’s rule, parliament subsequently endorsed the measures on 15 October. The move has been heavily criticised by the PTI and opposition TTAP. The timing has sharpened questions about whether security concerns and political conflict can be separated.
3. Disagreements over military strategy and counterterrorism
The deterioration in KP’s security situation has become central to the justification for emergency rule, but responsibility for it remains contested. Federal ministers accuse the PTI-led administration of failing to strengthen counterterrorism infrastructure, including forensic laboratories, surveillance systems and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). Reported CTD staffing and equipment shortages point to capacity constraints within provincial security institutions. However, the federal government’s claims that the provincial administration deliberately enabled militancy have not been independently verified. Meanwhile, the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) recorded 556 violence-linked fatalities in KP during the third quarter of 2026, up from 475 in the previous quarter. This rise occurred under a PTI-led government, although it does not by itself prove that provincial policies caused the increase. The crisis reflects both the province’s governance challenges and unresolved disagreements with Islamabad over operational control, resources and counterterrorism strategy.
4. Cross-border terrorism, the TTP and disagreement over the Afghan policy
The return of the Afghan Taliban to power in August 2021 reshaped Pakistan’s security environment, particularly in KP, where the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has intensified its campaign against the Pakistani state. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of allowing the TTP to operate from Afghan territory, but Kabul denies this claim. The breakdown of the TTP’s ceasefire with Pakistan in November 2022 further contributed to escalating violence. The Afghan issue has also become central to the emergency proclamation. Federal officials argue that counterterrorism requires a unified national approach and accuse KP’s leadership of pursuing engagement with the Taliban without adequate coordination with Islamabad. Yet foreign policy and border security largely fall under federal authority, complicating attempts to assign responsibility to the province alone. The emergency therefore highlights the disagreements over negotiations, military operations and relations with Kabul. Whether federal and provincial institutions can coordinate effectively remains a key challenge.
What does it mean?
First, the timing of the proclamation raises concerns over its legality. Condemnation from the legal fraternity, including the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA), raises concerns over the timing and legality of the emergency proclamation. If the PHC rules in favour of the PTI in the ongoing plea, it could undermine the federal government’s attempt to take control of the province.
Second, the proclamation is unlikely to stem violence in the province. Disagreements over the security policy have resulted in a chaotic counterterrorism strategy in the province, leading to increased fatalities. Despite the federal government taking control of the province, violence is unlikely to be curbed, as the move has not addressed the core structural issues causing the attacks.
