Pakistan has detained the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and several cabinet members from former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party after the federal government imposed emergency rule and suspended the provincial government.
President Asif Ali Zardari declared the emergency on Sunday, placing the north-western province under a new administrative arrangement amid escalating tensions between Khan’s PTI party and the country’s powerful military establishment.
The federal government said the move was necessary because the provincial administration had failed to contain Islamist militancy.
The PTI rejected the explanation, alleging that the emergency was intended to prevent Khan’s supporters from marching to Islamabad to demand his release.
Government minister Talal Chaudhry confirmed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody.
According to Chaudhry, the detentions took place on Sunday at the chief minister’s residence in Peshawar, the provincial capital.
Those facing cases could be charged and brought to trial, while others would be released, Chaudhary said.
The information provided by the government does not mention how many provincial officials were detained.
According to the media reports the federal government's decision followed a failure by the provincial administration to address growing militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which shares a border with Afghanistan.
The province has experienced an increase in militant attacks in recent months. The federal government and military have accused the PTI-led administration of failing to control the violence, allegations the party denies.
Under Pakistan’s Constitution, the federal government can take over provincial administration during an emergency. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a provincial governor would assume charge following the president’s declaration.
The PTI has dismissed the government’s security justification, claiming the emergency was imposed to prevent its supporters from travelling to Islamabad.
Early October, Khan’s supporters had staged protests in the province for several days, seeking his release and access to medical treatment, and had planned to march towards the capital to intensify pressure on the government.
The suspension of the provincial government has further escalated the confrontation surrounding the 74-year-old former cricket star, who remains in prison.
The latest developments deepen the political conflict between Khan’s party, the federal government and Pakistan’s military establishment.
The federal government maintains that emergency rule is required to address the deteriorating security situation. The PTI, however, views the action as an attempt to weaken its provincial leadership and prevent further mobilisation in support of Khan.
The coming days could determine whether the emergency administration leads to further detentions and restrictions or whether the government moves towards restoring normal provincial governance.
