Emergency, governor's rule imposed in K-P after president signs summary on PM Shehbaz's advice

Govt appoints Muhammad Fakhr as chief secretary, Pakistan Army deployed in province to assist the civil administration

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government on Sunday imposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the summary on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following the federal cabinet’s approval of the recommendation.

"The president signed the summary following the federal cabinet’s decision, the prime minister’s advice, reports from relevant institutions on the law and order situation, and the failure of negotiations with government delegations," said a statement issued by the President's office.

It further stated that the president signed the advice, approving it under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے خیبر پختونخوا میں کی سلامتی کی صورتحال پر وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس پر دستخط کر دیے ہیں۔

آئینِ پاکستان کے آرٹیکلز 232 اور 234 کے تحت صدرِ مملکت نے وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس منظور کرتے ہوئے دستخط کیے۔

وفاقی کابینہ کے فیصلے، وزیراعظم کی ایڈوائس، متعلقہ اداروں کی…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 11, 2026

According to a government gazette notification, President Zardari imposed an emergency in K-P under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, with the presidential proclamation taking immediate effect,

The proclamation cites an extraordinary increase in terrorist incidents and violent activities in the province as the reason for the emergency, stating that attacks pose serious threats to the lives and property of the public.

According to the proclamation, attacks by terrorists on infrastructure, government installations, and law enforcement agencies have increased. It also claimed that the provincial government has failed to address the threats posed by terrorism and lawlessness effectively.

The proclamation further states that a report by the K-P governor identified a failure of the constitutional system in the province, adding that the situation had moved beyond the control of the provincial government.

It describes the situation as a threat not only to K-P but also to Pakistan’s overall security.

Under the measures outlined in the proclamation, the federal government may direct the K-P governor to assume all or some of the provincial government's powers.

The governor would exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned by the federal government, according to the notification.

The proclamation also provides for the powers of the K-P Assembly to be exercised by Parliament or a body authorised by it.

Under the notification, the K-P chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general would immediately cease to hold their offices.

The proclamation states that the emergency has taken effect immediately.

The announcement came shortly after the federal cabinet recommended imposing emergency rule in K-P amid the prevailing security situation.

The cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of PM Shehbaz, reviewed the worsening law and order situation in the province and was briefed on the rising threat of terrorism.

In view of the gravity of the situation, the cabinet recommended that the prime minister advise President Zardari to invoke his constitutional powers under Articles 232 and 234 to impose emergency rule in the province.

The advice was then forwarded to the President’s House.

وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیرِ صدارت وفاقی کابینہ کا اجلاس آج اسلام آباد میں منعقد ہوا.

وفاقی کابینہ کو خیبر پختونخوا میں امن و امان کی صورتحال اور دھشتگردی کی بگڑتی ہوئی صورتحال پر بریفنگ دی گئی.

کابینہ نے خیبر پختونخوا میں امن و امان کی بگڑتی ہوئی صورتحال اور دھشتگردی… pic.twitter.com/EQBySKCItC

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 11, 2026

 

Army deployed in K-P

Following the imposition of an emergency in the province, the federal government has issued a formal order authorising the deployment of army troops to assist the civil administration.

According to the order, the deployment has been approved under Article 245 of the Constitution for the period covered by the proclamation issued on Oct 11, 2026, under Articles 232 and 234.

The deployment aims to ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property, as well as government installations, the order said, adding that the army would assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order and protecting citizens in the province.

The K-P governor, in consultation with the General Headquarters’ Directorate of Military Operations, will determine the number of troops and resources to be deployed, according to the order.

The deployment order will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan, Part II.

Dr Fakhr Alam Irfan appointed K-P chief secretary

The federal government notified the appointment of Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada to the K-P government, according to an official notification.

A Grade-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Akhunzada was previously serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.

He has also served as additional political agent for South and North Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education in K-P, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan. Akhunzada hails from Charsadda district of K-P.

According to the notification, his services have been placed at the disposal of the K-P government under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. The appointment will remain effective until further orders.

Govt appoints Yahya Akhunzada to K-P administration

The federal government also notified the appointment of Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada to the K-P government, according to an official notification.

A Grade-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Akhunzada was previously serving as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.

He has also served as additional political agent for South and North Waziristan, secretary of health, information and education in K-P, and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan. Akhunzada hails from Charsadda district of K-P.

According to the notification, his services have been placed at the disposal of the K-P government under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. The appointment will remain effective until further orders.

Federal govt appoints new K-P chief secretary

The federal government on Sunday appointed Dr Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the new chief secretary of K-P.

According to the notification issued today, Irfan, a Grade-22 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), was previously serving as secretary of the Power Division under the Ministry of Energy.

His appointment as K-P chief secretary takes immediate effect and will remain in place until further orders, the notification stated.

The developments followed a meeting between President Zardari and PM Shehbaz at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday, during which they reviewed the country's overall political and security situation, with particular attention to K-P, where the PTI launched its long march on October 4.

According to sources, the president and prime minister reached an understanding on the possibility of imposing governor's rule or an emergency in the province. However, the final decision rests with the federal cabinet, and no formal announcement had been made at the time of reporting.

The Presidency's media wing said the meeting discussed the overall political and security situation and that separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate had been agreed upon for Oct 13.