Pakistan Imposes Emergency in Region with Strong Support for Imran Khan

The government of Pakistan has imposed a state of emergency in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest of the country, a move that significantly affects the provincial administration led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is owned by the former Prime Minister Imran Khan who is imprisoned.

The state of emergency was implemented on Sunday using two provisions of the country's constitution, which relate to security matters. This action effectively suspends the powers of the provincial government led by the PTI party.

The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, stated that he approved the proposal from the Cabinet, which was discussed in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the situation in the province.

A press release from the Prime Minister's office indicated that the Cabinet reviewed the security situation and expressed concern over what they described as “the deliberate withdrawal of the provincial government from the fight against terrorism.”

This decision comes at a time when the PTI party was preparing for a protest march to the capital Islamabad, demanding the release of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for more than three years, but still enjoys widespread support in Pakistan.

This move is expected to affect the political relationship between the federal government and the provincial administration, with further details awaited on how the state of emergency will be implemented and the subsequent measures to be taken.