Pakistan Declares State of Emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Suspending Government Led by Imran Khan's Party

Authorities in Pakistan have officially declared a state of emergency in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The emergency measures were invoked on Sunday, utilizing two constitutional articles related to security.

This decision effectively suspends the provincial government, which is operated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)—the political party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. President Asif Ali Zardari announced via social media that he approved these cabinet recommendations, following a meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day.

According to an official statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office, cabinet members evaluated regional conditions and highlighted the "provincial government's deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism."

The move arrives while the PTI party organizes preparations for a march toward the capital, Islamabad. The demonstration aims to demand the freedom of Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated for over three years while maintaining significant popularity nationwide.