HARIPUR: The workers and leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) here on Monday celebrated the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PML-N MNA Dr Shaista Jadoon, former provincial minister Qazi Mohammad Asad Khan and district president of the party Sahibzada Hamid Shah led a rally to celebrate imposition of governor’s rule in the province. The rally started from Chowk Sheranwala Gate and ended at Siddique-i-Akbar Chowk.

Addressing the rally, the PML-N leaders said that people of the province were fed up with the governance of the party that came into power with the promise of change. “Their protest on every second day exposed people to flour shortage,” said Dr Shaista. She added that Pakistani forces rendered sacrifices to quell the scourge of terrorism but PTI allegedly supported terrorists.

Qazi Asad termed PTI’s three consecutive tenures as the worst governance involving financial downslide and increase in loans. He said that the advisory council headed by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would provide relief to people and would restore peace in KP.

Speakers criticise PTI for ‘bad governance’

In Battagram, PML-N workers organised rallies at Khatm-i-Nabuwwat Chowk in the main bazaar and in Thakot Bazaar. The participants of the rallies were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in support of federal government and against PTI.

PML-N district president Mahajareen Khan, former MPA Nawabzada Wali Mohammad Khan and Adil Nawaz Khan along with other local leaders attended the rallies.

Mahajareen Khan said that PTI provincial government badly failed to deliver. He added that terrorism resurfaced during the PTI government in the province. He said that it was need of the hour to bring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at par with other provinces in terms of development and peace.

Nawabzada Wali Mohammad Khan said that PTI was not serious about governance. He said those opposing the federal government’s decision should look at the situation and answer what compelled it to impose emergency and governor’s rule in the province. He said the decision should have been taken earlier.

In Lower Dir, PPP former candidate for National Assembly Advocate Alamzeb led a rally in Timergara Bazaar in support of governor’s rule. The participants of the rally distributed sweets and chanted slogans against PTI.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Alamzeb said that KP must be brought back on the track of peace, transparency and democracy after what he called 13 years of poor governance.

He said imposition of emergency and governor’s rule was not a matter of celebration for anyone but a consequence of the deteriorating situation in the province.

He said that 680 terrorist attacks had been reported in the province from January to September in the current year.

In Swabi, large billboards inscribed with words “Youm-i-Nijat” were installed on Monday. However, it was not immediately known as who installed the boards.

This scribe tried to contact the officials of tehsil municipal administration to know as to who paid for the billboards but they didn’t answer the call.

Referring to PTI government, it was also written on the billboards that from 2013 general elections to proclamation of governor’s rule and emergency, a party did nothing for people so its departure was a day of “Youm-i-Nijat” for them.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026