Pakistan on Monday declared a state of emergency in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the stronghold of former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI party, and suspended the PTI-dominated government.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 13, 2026
Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and suspended the provincial government led by the party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Authorities subsequently detained the provincial chief minister and several members of his administration, according to government officials.
Emergency declared in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari declared the state of emergency on October 11, 2026, following a recommendation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal government.
The measure effectively suspended the provincial administration controlled by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Federal officials cited security concerns and accused the provincial government of failing to cooperate adequately in counterterrorism operations.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, has experienced attacks by militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the emergency arrangement would initially remain in place for six months, with the provincial governor assuming administrative authority alongside an advisory council.
Chief minister and PTI leaders detained
On October 12, federal junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry confirmed to Reuters that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several members of his cabinet had been placed in preventive custody.
Chaudhry said those with cases against them could face charges and trial, while others could be released. PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar was also reported to have been detained.
The detentions followed the suspension of the PTI-led provincial government and came amid preparations by Khan’s supporters for demonstrations in Islamabad demanding his release.
Authorities had increased security around the capital and established barriers on major routes ahead of the planned protests.
Government cites counterterrorism concerns
The federal government accused the suspended provincial administration of failing to adequately support efforts against militant groups operating in the region.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar alleged that the provincial leadership had facilitated militants. The government said the emergency measures would improve coordination between federal and provincial authorities in addressing security threats.
PTI denied allegations linking the party to militancy and said it would challenge the emergency declaration through legal channels. The accusations remain disputed.
Imran Khan remains in prison
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal in April 2022, has been imprisoned since 2023 while facing multiple legal cases.
His party continues to demand his release and has raised concerns about his access to medical care. Khan’s imprisonment and the legal proceedings against him have remained central issues in the dispute between PTI and the federal government.
The emergency declaration places Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under federal oversight after years of political tensions between Khan’s party and Pakistan’s national leadership.
