Pakistan Declares Emergency, Arrests Imran Khan Allies
Pakistan imposes emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, detaining PTI leaders amid political tensions and security concerns.
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Pakistan declared a state of emergency in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, a stronghold of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The central government suspended the PTI-dominated provincial government, citing the need to contain an Islamist insurgency linked to neighboring Afghanistan.
Political Tensions and Opposition Claims
PTI officials dismissed the government’s explanation as a pretext to arrest opposition leaders and prevent Khan supporters from marching on Islamabad. Khan, who was ousted in 2022 and has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges, has long accused current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of fabricating charges to block his political comeback.
Preparation for the March and Government Response
PTI members had been rallying in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for days to prepare for a planned march on Islamabad. Government forces in the capital had been blocking roads and preparing for a potential siege. Sharif had asked PTI to postpone the march, citing ongoing threats from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a violent group seeking to replace Pakistan’s secular government with an Islamist caliphate.
Emergency Measures and Arrests
President Asif Ali Zardari declared the emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after failed negotiations between provincial leaders and Islamabad representatives. Police arrested several high-ranking PTI members, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, with some detained temporarily and others facing serious charges. Schools in the province were closed, and internet connectivity was disrupted.
Government and Opposition Reactions
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced that a provincial governor would be appointed for six months. PTI leaders condemned the emergency declaration as an “ambush on democracy” and a “coup disguised as an emergency.” Provincial governor Faisal Karim Kundi urged residents to “refrain from violating the law, inciting violence or engaging in rioting,” emphasizing the need for peace and stability.
Source: Breitbart
