Centre-PTI rift deepens as KP faces emergency risks

ISLAMABAD (FEDERAL CAPITAL), KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (PROVINCE), PAKISTAN, 11 OCTOBER 2026 —

Top leaders of Pakistan’s ruling coalition partners, the PML-N and the PPP, finalised a plan on Saturday to bring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province under federal control by invoking constitutional provisions for an emergency and governor’s rule.

In response to the fast-moving developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called an extraordinary federal cabinet meeting for Sunday to discuss the constitutional options. Additionally, the ruling coalition decided to convene separate sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate on Tuesday, October 13.

The federal capital saw a flurry of political activity on Saturday. Prime Minister Shehbaz held separate meetings with President Asif Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to explore avenues for averting a direct confrontation with the PTI.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who has acted as a mediator between the government and the opposition, subsequently met with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Asad Qaiser to brief them on the government's potential actions if the party pressed ahead with its march.

“We are only facilitators of talks to defuse the prevailing tension but the decision will have to be made by the government and the PTI,” a senior JUI-F leader said following the consultations.

Although official government announcements were initially muted, statements from several ministers and background interviews with PPP leaders indicated that the administration had decided to deploy Articles 232, 233, and 234 of the Constitution to seize control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and remove Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi adopted a stark tone regarding the breakdown of dialogue, stating that “there was no room left to avoid the imposition of an emergency in KP.” Speaking to reporters, Naqvi maintained that the administration had exhausted all possibilities for compromise. “Ask Maulana Fazlur Rehman himself how hard I tried,” he said, adding that Barrister Gohar could also confirm his outreach efforts.

“I tried my best till the very end, but I have nothing left.”

Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar confirmed the prime minister’s decision to convene Sunday's cabinet meeting on a weekly holiday to address the emergency and governor’s rule proposals. “You can understand the meaning of convening the cabinet meeting on Sunday,” Tarar told reporters when asked if the decision to impose emergency rule was finalized.

Minister of State for Interior Affairs Tallal Chaudhry echoed these points on a private television channel, questioning what alternative avenues remained for the federal government after the PTI repeatedly refused to cooperate on counter-terrorism efforts and allegedly incited the public against national policy during its march.

Preparations on the ground reflected the mounting apprehension. A senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government official reported that all deputy commissioners and district police officers across the province had been ordered to remain stationed in their respective districts until further notice.

Meanwhile, a federal government source described the forthcoming cabinet agenda as a "cocktail of the two articles," referring to Articles 232 and 234, though noting that strict constitutional requirements for governor's rule and emergency proclamations rely primarily on the governor, president, and prime minister rather than formal cabinet approval, which is being treated as an additional measure.

Provincial security apparatuses have also been placed on high alert. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed issued directives to district police officers on Saturday to guard against potential violent protests and sabotage operations should the federation declare an emergency.

“In order to ensure public safety and security, in all cases of public protests there is a possibility that miscreants and anti-state elements may use an opportunity to excite violence, and carry out sabotage activities,” the police notification stated. Station House Officers were instructed to identify vulnerable locations along procession routes and deploy adequate manpower for their protection.

The high-level political coordination at the presidency was detailed in an official handout following talks between President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz, which noted discussions on the country's broader political and security climate. Attendees at that meeting included Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Awan, and prominent PPP figures Sherry Rehman, Naveed Qamar, Saleem Mandviwala, and Dr Asim Hussain.

Under the constitutional framework cited by officials, Article 232 empowers the president to proclaim a provincial emergency if satisfied that a grave emergency threatens Pakistan’s security through war, external aggression, or internal disturbances beyond a provincial government's control.

While such actions typically require a provincial assembly resolution, the president may act independently provided the proclamation is submitted to both houses of parliament for approval within ten days, granting parliament legislative powers over provincial matters during the emergency. Article 233 allows the suspension of certain fundamental rights during this period.

Article 234 governs the implementation of governor’s rule in the event of a failure of constitutional machinery within a province. It dictates that upon receiving a report from a provincial governor indicating that governance cannot proceed in accordance with the Constitution, the president may assume provincial governmental functions directly or through the governor, empower Parliament to exercise the powers of the provincial assembly, and issue incidental provisions to suspend relevant constitutional mechanisms.