Govt imposes emergency and governor's rule in KP, deploys Ar

Pakistan's federal government imposes emergency and governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after President Asif Ali Zardari signs the summary on PM Shehbaz Sharif's advice. Army troops are deployed under Article 245, while Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan is appointed the province's new chief secretary. President signs summary on PM's advice after federal cabinet approves emergency amid worsening security situation in KP Presidential proclamation cites surge in terrorist attacks, threats to public safety and alleged failure of provincial government to contain lawlessness Army deployed under Article 245 to assist civil administration, protect citizens and safeguard government installations across the province Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan appointed KP chief secretary, while Grade-20 officer Yahya Akhunzada placed at the disposal of the provincial government Proclamation provides for provincial government powers to be exercised by the governor and KP Assembly's powers by Parliament or an authorised body ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Sunday imposed emergency and governor's rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after President Asif Ali Zardari signed a summary on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following the federal cabinet's approval of the recommendation amid the province's deteriorating security situation. 'The president signed the summary following the federal cabinet's decision, the prime minister's advice, reports from relevant institutions on the law and order situation, and the failure of negotiations with government delegations,' a statement issued by the President's Office said. It added that the president had signed the advice, approving the move under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan. According to a government gazette notification, President Zardari imposed an emergency in KP under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, with the presidential proclamation taking immediate effect. صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے خیبر پختونخوا میں کی سلامتی کی صورتحال پر وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس پر دستخط کر دیے ہیں۔ آئینِ پاکستان کے آرٹیکلز 232 اور 234 کے تحت صدرِ مملکت نے وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس منظور کرتے ہوئے دستخط کیے۔ وفاقی کابینہ کے فیصلے، وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس، متعلقہ اداروں کی امن و امان کی صورتحال سے متعلق رپورٹس اور حکومتی وفود کے ساتھ مذاکرات کی ناکامی کے بعد صدرِ مملکت نے سمری پر دستخط کیے۔ — The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 11, 2026 The proclamation cites an extraordinary increase in terrorist incidents and violent activities across the province as the basis for the emergency, stating that the attacks pose serious threats to the lives and property of the public. It says terrorist attacks on infrastructure, government installations and law enforcement agencies have increased, while alleging that the provincial government has failed to effectively address the threats posed by terrorism and lawlessness. The proclamation further states that a report submitted by the KP governor identified a failure of the constitutional system in the province, adding that the situation had gone beyond the control of the provincial government. It describes the prevailing situation as a threat not only to KP but also to Pakistan's overall security. Under the measures set out in the proclamation, the federal government may direct the KP governor to assume all or some of the powers of the provincial government. The governor would exercise those powers and perform the duties assigned by the federal government, according to the notification. The proclamation also provides for the powers of the KP Assembly to be exercised by Parliament or a body authorised by it. Under the notification, the KP chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general would immediately cease to hold their offices. The proclamation states that the emergency has taken effect immediately. The announcement came shortly after the federal cabinet recommended imposing emergency rule in KP amid the prevailing security situation. The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz, reviewed the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and received a briefing on the growing threat of terrorism. In view of the gravity of the situation, the cabinet recommended that the prime minister advise President Zardari to invoke his constitutional powers under Articles 232 and 234 to impose emergency rule in the province. The advice was subsequently forwarded to the President's House. Army deployed in KP Following the imposition of emergency in the province, the federal government issued a formal order authorising the deployment of army troops to assist the civil administration. وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیرِ صدارت وفاقی کابینہ کا اجلاس آج اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہوا. وفاقی کابینہ کو خیبر پختونخوا میں امن و امان کی صورتحال اور دھشتگردی کی بگڑتی ہوئی صورتحال پر بریفنگ دی گئی. کابینہ نے خیبر پختونخوا میں امن و امان کی بگڑتی ہوئی صورتحال اور دھشتگردی کے خلاف جنگ سے صوبائی حکومت کی دانستہ لاتعلقی کے پیش نظر حالات کا تفصیلی جائزہ لیا. کابینہ نے وزیرِ اعظم کو تجویز دی کہ وہ صدر مملکت کو مشورہ دیں کہ حالات کی سنگینی کے پیش نظر صدر مملکت آئینی اختیار استعمال کرتے ہوئے صوبہ خیبر پختونخوا میں آئین پاکستان کے آرٹیکل 232 اور 234 کے تحت ایمرجنسی کا نفاذ کریں. اس ضمن میں وزیرِ اعظم ہاؤس سے ایڈوائس ایوان صدر بھجوا دی گئی ہے. — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 11, 2026 According to the order, the deployment has been approved under Article 245 of the Constitution for the period covered by the presidential proclamation issued on October 11, 2026, under Articles 232 and 234. The deployment is aimed at protecting citizens' lives and property, as well as government installations, the order said. It added that the army would assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order and safeguarding citizens across the province. The KP governor, in consultation with the General Headquarters' Directorate of Military Operations, will determine the number of troops and the resources to be deployed, according to the order. The deployment order will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan, Part II. Dr Fakhr Alam Irfan appointed KP chief secretary The federal government on Sunday appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the new chief secretary of KP. According to an official notification issued on Sunday, Irfan, a Grade-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), was previously serving as secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Energy. His appointment as KP chief secretary takes immediate effect and will remain in place until further orders, the notification stated. Separately, the federal government notified the placement of Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada at the disposal of the KP government, according to an official notification. A Grade-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Akhunzada was previously serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister's Office. He has also served as additional political agent for South and North Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education in KP, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan. Akhunzada hails from Charsadda district of KP. According to the notification, his services have been placed at the disposal of the KP government under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. The appointment will remain effective until further orders. Zardari, Shehbaz reviewed political, security situation The developments followed a meeting between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday, during which they reviewed the country's overall political and security situation, with particular attention to KP, where the PTI launched its long march on October 4. According to sources, the president and prime minister reached an understanding on the possibility of imposing governor's rule or an emergency in the province. However, the final decision rested with the federal cabinet, and no formal announcement had been made at the time of reporting. The Presidency's media wing said the meeting discussed the overall political and security situation. It added that separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate had been agreed upon for October 13.