Islamabad, 12 October (H.S.): The imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, governed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been followed by a sweeping crackdown on prominent party leaders. Those detained include ousted Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several members of his cabinet, amid escalating political tensions in the province.

On the evening of October 11, President Asif Ali Zardari announced an emergency and the imposition of governor’s rule in the province as the PTI’s Islamabad long march continued. According to a report by The News, the move resulted in the dismissal of the provincial government led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI. The federal government invoked Article 232(1), concerning a state of emergency, and Article 234(1), relating to the imposition of governor’s rule, of Pakistan’s Constitution.

The federal government cited deteriorating law and order, a rise in terrorist attacks and the provincial government’s alleged failure to cooperate in counterterrorism efforts as reasons for the decision. Under the new arrangement, the powers of the chief minister, provincial ministers and the provincial assembly have been transferred to the federal authorities, while administrative control of the province has been placed under the governor.

Federal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and some members of his cabinet were taken into police custody on Sunday. He said legal proceedings would be initiated against those facing pending cases, while the others would be released.

In a separate development, a notification issued on Monday reportedly removed at least 71 lawyers from the office of the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Those affected include provincial Advocate General Shah Faisal Usmankhel.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said governor’s rule would empower the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to fight terrorism. Welcoming the action taken in the province, he said the federal government supported the measures announced on Sunday.

Meanwhile, sources said a meeting of the provincial Apex Committee was scheduled to take place on Monday under the chairmanship of Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. The meeting is expected to review the security situation across the province.

Police on Monday confirmed that at least eight PTI leaders, including ousted Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, were in custody. However, officials described the detention as protective custody, saying that no formal arrests had been made in connection with any cases at that stage.

Those reportedly detained include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and several members of Afridi’s cabinet.

Amid the rapidly changing political situation, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over the province’s security conditions. She maintained that the imposition of emergency rule had become necessary in view of the prevailing circumstances.

The developments have also disrupted educational activities in several areas. The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Kohat, has postponed all examinations under its jurisdiction until further notice, according to its chairman, Imtiaz Ayub.

In Lower Dir, all educational institutions have been ordered to remain closed on Monday and Tuesday. Educational institutions in Peshawar have also been shut for Monday. In Malakand, Section 144, which restricts public gatherings and certain activities, has been imposed for 30 days, with educational institutions remaining closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Rana Sanaullah, an adviser to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, said residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would no longer be forced to endure displacement and that the police and security forces would extend assistance to everyone.

He claimed that several districts in the province had effectively remained under government control during the day but fallen under militant control at night, a situation he said local residents themselves had acknowledged. He asserted that such circumstances would no longer be tolerated and blamed the previous provincial government for failing to support the national policy against terrorism.

Sanaullah also expressed surprise that five out of 12 areas or districts referred to in his remarks reportedly did not have a police station, underscoring what he described as serious shortcomings in the province’s security arrangements.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar