PESHAWAR—The President of Pakistan has decided to impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Article 232 of the Constitution, according to a statement issued by the Presidency.
The statement said the emergency was declared because of rising terrorist incidents and a serious deterioration in the law-and-order situation. It said attacks on government installations, infrastructure, and law-enforcement agencies had increased and alleged that the provincial government had failed to effectively address terrorism and lawlessness.
According to the statement, the presidential proclamation was issued under Article 232(1) and Article 234(1) of the Constitution. It said that, with the emergency in force, the provincial government could not be run in accordance with the Constitution under the prevailing circumstances.
The Presidency said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor would be able to perform provincial government functions assigned by the federal government. The governor would also exercise the powers of provincial institutions and officials, except those of the provincial assembly. The chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general were directed to leave their offices immediately.
The federal government has also deployed the army in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Ministry of Interior issued a notification approving the deployment under Article 245 of the Constitution.
According to the notification, the army will assist the civil administration and protect citizens’ lives, property and government installations. The deployment will remain in place for the duration of the emergency imposed on 11 October 2026.
The KP governor will determine the number of troops in consultation with General Headquarters. The number of personnel will be decided in coordination with the Military Operations Directorate. The order concerning the army’s deployment will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan, Part II.
