Gohar warns govt against imposing governor’s rule or emergency in KP

ISLAMABAD: The political temperature rose sharply on Thursday as PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan warned the federal government against imposing governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the party’s October 4 long march would remain a peaceful political activity.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of opposition parties, Gohar rejected the prospect of using constitutional measures to contain the planned mobilisation, arguing that confrontation would only deepen an already entrenched political crisis.

“The response to the long march should not be the imposition of governor’s rule,” he said, calling instead for political engagement with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan.

“Our effort is that the long march remains peaceful and completely political. Neither should governor’s rule be imposed nor should an emergency be enforced,” he added.

Gohar said the political impasse could be addressed through meetings with Imran Khan and what he described as ensuring justice.

He also reiterated the party’s demand for the release of Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, saying their release would help create space for resolving the country’s political disputes.

Despite the mounting pressure, he said the October 4 march would go ahead as planned.

Gohar also sought to draw a line under speculation surrounding KP Chief Minister SohailAfridi, insisting that the PTI’s protest was directed towards Islamabad and that the chief minister retained the backing of both Khan and the party.

“It is Imran’s province, Imran’s mandate prevails, and Imran’s directions are followed. Nothing will happen based on anyone else’s wishes,” he said.

At the same it, he confirmed that the opposition and government representable will hold a meeting at NA speaker’s chamber on Friday (today) at 12pm.

The PTI’s position was reinforced by KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, who said in a post on X that the march would begin from southern KP on October 4 and be led by Chief Minister Afridi.

The confrontation has intensified after federal ministers publicly invoked constitutional provisions that, they said, could permit the imposition of governor’s rule or emergency in the province if circumstances warranted it.

Government representatives have linked the possibility to concerns over law and order, security and governance.

The sources with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have also said the situation in KP has reached a point where constitutional options could be considered.

The warnings have triggered a direct political clash with the PTI-led provincial government, which has rejected any move against its administration and insists that dialogue, rather than constitutional confrontation, is the route out of the crisis.

With the October 4 mobilisation looming, the dispute has now moved beyond rhetoric, placing the Centre-KP confrontation at the centre of the country’s widening political battle.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026