Pakistani president suspends provincial government led by Khan’s party ahead of march
Pakistan placed the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under emergency rule on Sunday, suspending the regional government led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari approved the cabinet decision following anti-government demonstrations and rising militant violence in the northwest. Security forces deployed heavily in the provincial capital of Peshawar, surrounding the chief minister's residence. Imran Khan's party strongly denounced the suspension as a coup.
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- ✓ Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and suspended its provincial government on Sunday.
- ✓ The suspended regional government was led by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
- ✓ Imran Khan's party decried the suspension as a coup.
What changed
The federal government and the president suspended the provincial administration and declared emergency rule ahead of planned protests.
Live updates
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Pakistan Suspends Khan Party Provincial Government
Pakistan placed the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under emergency rule on Sunday, suspending the regional government led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari approved the cabinet decision following anti-government demonstrations and rising militant violence in the northwest. Security forces deployed heavily in the provincial capital of Peshawar, surrounding the chief minister's residence. Imran Khan's party strongly denounced the suspension as a coup.
Why it matters
The intervention targets a vital political stronghold of Imran Khan as his supporters organize anti-government protests and marches. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has faced persistent security challenges alongside intense political friction between regional leaders and the federal administration in Islamabad. Declaring emergency and governor's rule allows federal authorities to seize direct administrative control of the opposition-governed region.
What is confirmed
- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and suspended its provincial government on Sunday.
- The suspended regional government was led by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
- Imran Khan's party decried the suspension as a coup.
Still unconfirmed
- Provincial leaders from Imran Khan's party have been detained by authorities.
What to watch next
- Clashes or demonstrations surrounding the planned march by Imran Khan's supporters
- Further federal security deployments or political arrests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (24)
- AP News — Pakistani president suspends provincial government led by Khan’s party ahead of march
- Reuters — Pakistan imposes emergency rule over Imran Khan's provincial government
- Al Jazeera — Pakistan imposes emergency rule in province governed by Imran Khan’s party
- dw.com — Pakistan: Khan stronghold province put under emergency rule
- Dawn — Emergency, governor's rule imposed in KP as president approves cabinet decision
- The New York Times — Pakistan Seizes Control of an Opposition-Led Province
- Financial Times — Pakistan cracks down on Imran Khan stronghold province
- Dawn — 'Our fight is against terrorism': Kundi chairs first meeting of KP Advisory Council
- The Times of India — Pak crisis: Shehbaz govt declares emergency, ends Imran Khan's party's rule in KPK
- The Guardian — Imran Khan’s party decries ‘coup’ after Pakistan suspends provincial government
- Bloomberg.com — Pakistan Imposes Emergency in Stronghold of Imran Khan’s Party
- The Times of India — Why did Pakistan declare Emergency in Imran Khan's bastion Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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