• State minister cites ‘security and governance issues’ as reason
• Ex-judge says such rule can’t be extended beyond six months
• PTI leader describes it as just ‘feeler’

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is seriously considering imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing “security and governance issues” in the province as the reason for this potential move.

“It is the prerogative of the president to impose governor’s rule on the advice of the prime minister under Article 232 of the Con­s­titution. The federal government is seriously considering [this move],” said Minister of Sta­te for Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, while speaking on a Geo News programme.

“There is serious concern about how long the people of KP can be kept helpless. Governor’s rule can be imposed for two months, but it can be extended,” he said.

He added that the fragile law and order situation, challenges on the border, poor governance, and the concerns of the people of KP demanded that appropriate measures be taken to address these problems.

The state minister said the provincial government was engaged in confrontational politics, leaving the people of the province helpless and in a miserable condition.

Allegations against CM

Like Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Mr Malik also levelled allegations against KP’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, accusing him of being involved in drug production and trafficking.

“The government has credible evidence that poppy is being cultivated on the CM’s land in a tribal area,” he said.

The state minister maintained that CM Afridi, in a press talk on Sunday, had admitted that he owned land in the tribal area. “Now one has to see what is being cultivated on his land,” he said.

Mr Malik further stated that the government had some intelligence reports suggesting that the KP government wanted to sever the province’s road and rail links with other parts of the country.

Legal expert retired judge Shaiq Usmani said on a TV programme that after the imposition of governor’s rule, the Centre needed to have the move endorsed by a joint sitting of parliament.

He added that governor’s rule could not be extended beyond six months.

When asked whether the provincial government could challenge the imposition of governor’s rule in a court of law, he said it could be contested in any court.

However, he added that most likely the case would be heard by the recently formed Federal Constitutional Court.

‘Feeler’

Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the federal government was not serious about the imposition of governor’s rule, calling it merely a “feeler” from the Centre.

He added that even if the government were serious about imposing governor’s rule, it would not deal a significant blow to the PTI.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2025