Pakistan Emergency: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday approved and signed the order to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a province governed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The decision came after the federal cabinet recommended emergency measures under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

Emergency Imposed In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 

The President’s Office announced the decision in a post on X, stating: “President Asif Ali Zardari has signed off on the Prime Minister's advice regarding the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the President has signed after accepting the Prime Minister's advice. Following the federal cabinet's decision, the Prime Minister's advice, reports from relevant institutions regarding the law and order situation, and the failure of negotiations with government delegations, the President has signed the summary.”

Why Has Pakistan Imposed Emergency?

The Pakistan Cabinet cited worsening security conditions, rising terrorist activity and a breakdown in talks between the federal and provincial governments as reasons for calling for an emergency. It added deteriorating law-and-order situation and increasing terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa among key reasons behind the decision.

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The government also raised concerns over the provincial government’s lack of cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Before sending the proposal to the President, a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, reviewed the worsening law-and-order situation and rising terrorist activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The cabinet accused the provincial government of showing indifference towards counterterrorism efforts and recommended that the PM advise President Zardari to impose an emergency in the province under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. The move comes amid political tensions and the PTI’s ongoing march towards Islamabad over access to party leader Khan.

PTI Opposes Move

It is reported that political deadlock between Islamabad and the KP administration, along with the failure of negotiations with government delegations, further contributed to the decision. Meanwhile, the PTI, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F), Awami National Party (ANP) and allied Pashtun nationalist groups have opposed the emergency measures.

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