Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan, is preparing to legally contest the federal government's takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province previously governed by the party. Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI's central information secretary, stated that the party intends to challenge the imposition of emergency laws and governor's rule in court on Tuesday. A petition has been drafted by a legal committee headed by PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja, although Akram did not specify whether it would be filed in the Supreme Court or the Federal Constitutional Court.
The federal government's actions have become a significant political issue in Pakistan, with contrasting narratives from the government and the PTI. This situation arises as the PTI was organizing a delayed march towards Islamabad to pressure authorities for the release of former PM Khan, who has been imprisoned for over three years.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi defended the government's actions, stating that federal rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is necessary to effectively combat terrorism in the province, which shares a border with Afghanistan. "No war can be won, however many resources you bring, whatever you do, until the government there leads it," Naqvi said in Peshawar.
On Sunday, President Asif Ali Zardari imposed emergency rule and governor's rule, suspending the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has been under PTI governance since 2013. Sohail Afridi, the suspended chief minister, and some cabinet members have been placed in preventive custody, as confirmed by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. Despite these developments, PTI leaders maintain that their protest is ongoing. Akram stated, "The long march has not ended. But a historic crackdown against the party has begun."
The federal government's proclamation indicated that the provincial government had "failed to demonstrate the ownership, will and intent to adequately deal with the menace of terrorism." Aasiya Riaz, joint director of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), noted that the federal government’s position is based on a perceived disengagement from the fight against terrorism.
Conversely, Hassan Abdullah Niazi, a lawyer and adjunct faculty member at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, contested this assertion, arguing that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is not in a state of anarchy and has a functioning legislature and executive. He described the federal government's actions as unconstitutional.
A white paper presented by Ikhtiar Wali Khan, a political adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, highlighted issues such as rising police deaths and resource shortages in the provincial counterterrorism department. Akram refuted claims that the PTI had failed in its governance, citing the provincial government's financial support to families of over 900 security personnel killed in combat.
Naqvi mentioned that the federal government had engaged in discussions with the PTI regarding a proposed sit-in in support of Khan, emphasizing that the government’s concerns are solely related to terrorism. Taimur Jhagra, a PTI leader, criticized the government's framing of negotiations about a protest as discussions on terrorism strategy.
Naqvi also stated that the PTI had agreed to impose emergency rule in 12 districts, a claim Akram denied, stating that the party rejected the proposal due to concerns for residents' safety. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the PTI government of being complicit with armed groups, although no public evidence supports this claim.
According to government reports, 122 police personnel were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first half of this year, an increase from 63 during the same period in 2025. Independent trackers reported a rise in violence, with 556 violence-linked deaths recorded between July and September.
Political analysts have differing views on the motives behind the federal takeover. Zaigham Khan described the decision as a combination of political, administrative, and security factors, while Ali Arqam argued it is primarily a political maneuver disguised as administrative necessity. Jhagra asserted that the government’s actions aim to undermine the PTI, despite Khan's continued popularity.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar characterized the takeover as a constitutional measure. The PTI's immediate focus is on its leaders and the legal proceedings ahead. Akram noted a lack of communication with the chief minister, but emphasized the party's enduring popularity.
Naqvi acknowledged that results against terrorism would take time, indicating that challenges lie ahead. Arqam suggested that the government should be evaluated by the same standards applied to the PTI government regarding security and service improvements.