PESHAWAR: Lawyers observed strike on Tuesday across the province on the call of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council against imposition of emergency and governor’s rule.
They completely abstained from court proceedings across Peshawar and the entire province, severely disrupting judicial work as no counsel appeared before courts. Courts including Peshawar High Court had to put off hearings in a large number of cases because of the strike.
The KPBC has expressed deep reservations over the emergency measures invoked under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
It emphasised that constitutional conditions and legal procedures must be strictly followed.
KPBC will hold meeting on Oct 17 to devise future strategy
A day earlier the council announced the observance of a ‘black day’ and a boycott of court proceedings on Tuesday.
The council stated that the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was utilised as an extraordinary constitutional step and power to dissolve the elected provincial government or render the public mandate ineffective based on political differences.
It has noted that justification for such extraordinary measures is strictly conditional upon the complete adherence to relevant constitutional requirements, legal prerequisites and established procedures.
“The use of these powers for any political objective raises serious concerns regarding the federal structure, parliamentary democracy and provincial autonomy,” said the council.
It said that KPBC strongly opposed the undemocratic move by the federal government. It was an assault on the autonomy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and highly undesirable, it added.
The council expressed the resolve that legal fraternity would play its role for the restoration of democracy and would not remain silent spectators. It has also summoned an emergency meeting of its general body on October 17, 2026.
The meeting will deliberate on future strategy and a detailed mechanism for the restoration of democratic system.
PROTEST: The members of Insaf Lawyers Forum, affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, staged a demonstration outside Peshawar High Court, demanding immediate revocation of the emergency.
The protesters gathered inside the high court and then walked out to stage the protest on the nearby Sher Shah Suri Road.
They were chanting slogans against the government. They were holding placards inscribed with different slogans against the emergency and governor’s rule in KP.
They reiterated that legal fraternity would actively defend democracy and constitutional supremacy rather than remaining silent spectators. They later dispersed peacefully.
Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026
