Pakistan imposes emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid protests by Imran Khan supporters

The Pakistani presidency declared a state of emergency in one of its northern provinces yesterday, following opposition protests and riots in the northwest of the country. This measure is based on two articles of the Constitution and grants the central government extensive powers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where thousands of supporters of former imprisoned Prime Minister Imran Khan protested to demand his release and denounce difficult economic conditions.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari posted a photo of himself signing the order to activate these measures under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. Zardari approved the measures after reviewing recommendations “regarding the breakdown of public order and the failure of negotiations with government delegations,” according to his office.

Earlier, the office of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the decision was taken due to the “deterioration of the general situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the deliberate indifference of the provincial government in combating terrorism.” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a stronghold of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by Imran Khan. The recent constitutional measures are likely to marginalize the role of the provincial government controlled by the party.

Khan, 73, has been behind bars since 2023 and faces charges of corruption, treason, and incitement to violence following protests against the government that erupted in May 2023, which were accompanied by riots. Khan and his legal team deny these allegations, describing them as politically motivated cases.

Over recent months, anger among Khan’s supporters has intensified due to his inability to receive adequate medical care or communicate with his family. In August, the Supreme Court ordered his transfer to a private hospital, but authorities returned him to prison shortly after he spent a brief period in a government hospital.

Yesterday, security forces increased their presence in the provincial capital, Peshawar, and roads were closed in other cities across the province. PTI party leader Javed Akbar stated on X that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was arrested yesterday along with the party’s provincial chief.