• President okays move after cabinet approval
• Emergency proclaimed in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan
• 11-strong advisory council of technocrats under governor to run province’s affairs
• Federal cabinet blames provincial govt’s ‘deliberate disengagement from fight against terrorism’ for decision
• Ministers accuse PTI of being ‘in cahoots with terrorists’; Naqvi warns protesters of legal action

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Sunday imposed a state of emergency in 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and placed the province under governor’s rule following the president’s approval of recommendations made by the federal cabinet.

The measures were appr­oved under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the country’s overall security situation.

Following the proclamation, internet and cellular disruptions were reported from parts of the province.

Although there was no official word, internet watchdog NetBlocks said network data showed a major disruption to internet connectivity in parts of KP after emergency was imposed.

The emergency proclamation listed the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Mar­wat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.

The federal government also authorised the deployment of Pakistan Army troops and assets in aid of civil power in KP. On the ground, shipping containers were placed around the city of Peshawar to block several roads, with heavy police deployment.

The decision to impose emergency provisions came during a special meeting of the federal cabinet on Sunday, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where he was briefed on the security situation in KP.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said cabinet members reviewed the situation and took note of the “provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism”.

The members proposed, given the “gravity” of the situation, that the PM advise the president to exercise “his constitutional authority and impose an emergency in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution”.

Addressing the cabinet, the premier said the PTI-led KP government cannot be allowed to derail the stabilising economy amid tensions between the two sides. “I will not allow them [PTI] to destabilise the economy,” he said during the meeting.

On terrorism in KP and Balochistan, the premier said, “The way common citizens are being martyred, the way police officials and security officials, children and mothers [..] there can be nothing more heart-wrenching.”

Area Development Secretariat

The Cabinet Division issued an order stating that after proclamation of emergency, the government of KP “cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution”.

Earlier in the day, the federal government appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the chief secretary of KP. In a separate notification, the federal government also placed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada at the disposal of the KP government with “immediate effect and until further orders”.

Exercising its powers under Article 232, the government ordered that an Area Development Secretariat (ADS), under the superintendence of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC), be immediately established to “restore law and order, safeguard the security of the citizens of Pakistan and ensure good governance and development” in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, South Waziristan (Upper) and South Waziristan (Lower).

It said that the ARDC shall be a representative council comprising the notables from the designated districts and shall be headed by a chairman. The order further said that the ADS shall be headed by the additional chief secretary of the designated districts, who shall be the administrator of these areas. It said that the administrator shall perform all the functions of and exercise all executive, administrative, and law enforcement powers vested in or exercisable by the provincial government in the designated districts.

“All orders, notifications, directions, or actions taken by the administrator shall have the same legal effect as if issued by the provincial government,” it read.

The order further said that the provisions of Chapter 3 (provincial governments) of the Constitution’s Part IV and Clause 3 of Article 175, which pertains to the separation of the judiciary from the executive, will not apply to the designated districts. The KP Government Rules of Business 1985 will not apply either.

‘Charge-sheet’ against PTI

Defending its move, the government alleged that the PTI-led government in KP had a “nexus” with terrorist groups. The press conference by government ministers — Atta Tarar, Mohsin Naqvi, Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Tallal Chaudhry — came shortly after the Centre’s decision was announced.

Addressing the media in Islamabad, the information minister said all cabinet members who attended Sunday’s meeting were of the view that the “PTI government in KP is hand in glove with terrorists and has an unholy alliance with terrorists”.

“Terrorists have a clear say in how each district will be run,” he alleged, citing reports from the Intelligence Bureau and law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The minister went on to allege that a “power-sharing formula was gradually taking shape between terrorists and the PTI’s KP government, which was starting from southern districts and was ingressing further into the entire KP”.

Meanwhile, the interior minister warned the groups gathered in parts of KP — an apparent reference to PTI supporters taking part in its protest march — to disperse as they did not have any “provincial protection”.

“Whoever is caught, complete legal action will be taken and that person themselves will be responsible for it. We will deal with them strictly, so it is my request that please disperse.”

Responding to a query, Mr Naqvi said, “We have to restore law and order in KP, and we will take whatever action is needed for that, and we will normalise the situation as soon as we can.”

Asked about the reported arrests of KP ministers, Mr Naqvi said individuals would be held under preventative detention where required to maintain law and order, whereas those “wanted will be arrested”.

On the KP emergency, the law minister explained that an Area Development Secretariat (ADS), overseen by the governor, has been formed by the federal government to directly manage 12 districts “that were nearly in a war situation”.

He noted that parliament assumes the legislative powers of the provincial assembly as the latter stands non-functional.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026