Story summary
On Friday, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry warned that if the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government does not engage in the fight against terrorism, an emergency could be imposed under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan's Constitution. This warning came amid escalating tensions between the federal government and KP over security issues.
On Sunday, after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who cited the provincial government’s disengagement from anti-terrorism efforts, the federal government sent a summary to President House for imposing an emergency in KP. The decision was based on deteriorating law and order and the breakdown of constitutional governance.
Later that day, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the cabinet's recommendation, declaring an emergency in KP under Articles 232(1) and 234(1). This proclamation suspends key executive and legislative powers held by the provincial government. The chief minister and other top officials of the provincial government were immediately dismissed.
The decision came as PTI-led protests continued in KP, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi leading a march demanding the release of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and better medical care for him.
Written for “Emergency Imposed In KP” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 18 other(s) covering the same event.
Despite being in throes of violence for the past many decades, Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has most of the time enjoyed political stability.
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Peshawar → enjoy → stability
The violence came and went but political stability was always there despite the sabre-rattling with federal government and marches on Islamabad.
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stability → come → Islamabad
However, all this changed on Sunday after the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in the province.
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this → change → province
The night before, skies of Peshawar poured buckets, flooding roads and drenching the city; however, the Sunday morning was warm and sunny.
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morning → pour → city
Yet it started with a sense of dread as uncertainty hung heavy over the city.
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uncertainty → start → city
The telltale signs of not everything is good dawned upon after reaching for telephone, the ritual everyone does upon waking up.
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everyone → dawn → telephone
The impending doom was there for all to see: no mobile signals.
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all → impend → ?
Routine journey in the city turns into hectic exercise as governor’s rule imposed
The city had witnessed a nearly 48 hours long mobile service blackout just days ago owing to PTI protest march.
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city → turn → march
Outside, the stations of Peshawar Bus Transit (BRT), whose buses come on road early in the morning, remained shut.
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buses → come → morning
The GT Road was closed at Firdous Chowk by placing shipping containers.
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Road → close → containers
A large number of police personnel was deputed at this spot.
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number → depute → spot
Only pedestrians were allowed to move ahead on GT Road and a large number of cops were sitting outside the shuttered shops on GT Road between Hospital Road and Firdous Chowk, also called the Malik Saad Shaheed Chowk.
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number → allow → Road
A bearded cop on the road stopped me and handed over a shopping bag containing fried peas.
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cop → stop → peas
Perplexed, I looked at him and he turned his back toward me, asking me to put the peas into the back pocket of his bulletproof vest.
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he → look → vest
The gates of Bala Hisar Fort, which houses the headquarters of Frontier Corps North, were shuttered and a contingent of policemen was resting on the footpath.
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contingent → house → footpath
A few steps from here just outside the KP Assembly is Surey Chowk, from where GT Road leads commuters to Khyber Road, which houses the city red zone.
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which → lead → zone
The road leading to Khyber Road was blocked with containers and the gate erected to control traffic was also closed.
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gate → lead → traffic
A large number of cops were milling around Surey Pul Square, which is the most favoured spot for protesters of all kinds and hues.
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which → mill → kinds
At the end of Justice Rustam Kiyani Road near central jail , where the artery leads to Sher Shah Suri Road, an old armoured personnel carrier was parked and two cops there were telling walkers not to proceed further.
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cops → lead → walkers
A few of us ignored their warnings but just next to MPA Hostel, a large contingent of cops yelled at us to go back and take detour through Shoba Bazaar.
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contingent → ignore → Bazaar
The Jail Pul, which connects Sher Shah Suri Road with Khyber Bazaar, was also closed.
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which → connect → Bazaar
I met an acquaintance there who offered to take me through Civil Secretariat and we entered the Police Road and secretariat without any hassle.
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we → meet → hassle
Civil Secretariat, the beating heart of KP government, was completely deserted with a few cars parked outside the chief secretary office.
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cars → beat → office
On Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Road, where houses of minister and governor are located, security was very tight and police personnel were checking everyone heading towards both the houses.
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personnel → locate → houses
From the distance, I saw a large number of vehicles parked outside the Governor’s Houses.
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I → see → Houses
Walking the road in the opposite direction towards Khyber Road, I saw an APC, a prison van and truck carrying riot police, heading in the direction of Chief Minister House.
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APC → walk → House
After a few minutes’ walk, a barricade was erected on Khyber Road near Army Stadium and when I approached the personnel standing there and explained that I needed to cross to the other side, a plainclothes youth holding a radio just sputtered a series of “no, no, no, no.
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youth → erect → series
You must go back.
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You → go → ?
This road is closed and we cannot open this barrier.
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we → close → barrier
I stood there in plain confusion thinking of what to do.
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I → stand → what
No question of going back and with no telephone, I was unable to approach any official.
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I → go → official
Then as a last resort, I pleaded with paramilitary personnel to let me out and one of them signalled another guard to open the gate for me.
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one → plead → me
But the plainclothes again jumped in front of me and said no.
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plainclothes → jump → me
Then the other, standing behind laughed, perhaps, they were enjoying my confusion or saw fear on my face.
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they → stand → face
“How rudimentary freedom is,” muses one of the characters in JM Coetzee.
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one → muse → Coetzee
Little did we realise how important is the ability to move freely without any fear, without being stopped.
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ability → realise → fear
Outside the stretch of Khyber Road, connecting University Road and Airport Road, Amn Chowk was open but there was little traffic.
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Chowk → connect → Road
A large contingent of cops was present at Amn Chowk, previously called the Gora Qabristan Chowk.
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contingent → call → Chowk
The University Road was blocked at Tehkal with containers, a biker told me.
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biker → block → me
There were also containers on Stadium Chowk only letting cars in a single line on both sides.
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cars → be → sides
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
