ISLAMABAD: The embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday strongly condemned the federal government’s imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as an assault on the province’s democratic mandate and warning that the measures could deepen political tensions without resolving the security crisis.
It warned that displacing an elected government in a province already grappling with militancy and economic hardship could further destabilise the situation.
In a statement, PTI described the move as a “grave political blunder”, arguing that the federal government had chosen confrontation over constitutional dialogue and institutional cooperation.
“The democratic mandate of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot be set aside to serve political interests. The Constitution exists to protect the will of the people, not to be used as an instrument to undermine an elected provincial government,” the party said.
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also rejected the move in a post on X, describing it as undemocratic and saying the people of the province would not accept the dismantling of their elected government.
He argued that peace and stability could not be achieved by disregarding the electorate’s mandate, curtailing provincial autonomy or provoking a confrontation between the federation and a province already under pressure from militancy.
While acknowledging the need to eliminate terrorism, he cautioned against using security concerns to suppress public opinion, pursue political objectives or undermine the province’s constitutional powers.
“There is no disagreement on eliminating terrorism,” he said, adding that the fight against militancy required national unity and a coordinated strategy rather than measures that could deepen political divisions.
“Provinces cannot be weakened to strengthen the federation,” he said, arguing that constitutional supremacy, political wisdom and meaningful dialogue offered a more credible way out of the country’s overlapping crises than coercion and extraordinary measures.
Gohar said PTI would challenge the move through constitutional, legal and democratic forums and continue to defend the provincial mandate and the political rights of its people.
He urged the federal government to reconsider its course, take ground realities into account and respond to public sentiment, saying a review of the decision would demonstrate political wisdom rather than weakness. Persisting with the move, he warned, could aggravate the country’s political and economic difficulties and further damage the democratic process.
Separately, former National Assembly speaker and PTI leader Asad Qaiser also opposed the emergency measures and Governor’s Rule, accusing the federal government’s policies of contributing to the situation in the province.
In a post on X, Qaiser said PTI had consistently opposed terrorism but maintained that security concerns could not justify violating fundamental rights or depriving the people of their constitutional rights.
He called for the implementation of a unanimous resolution adopted by a peace jirga, which he said had the backing of all political parties.
He also urged political forces across the country to speak up for the province’s rights, warning that the proposed measures threatened its constitutional position.
Qaiser vowed that PTI would continue its constitutional and democratic struggle against the move.
Meanwhile, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Junaid Akbar claimed on X that he and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had been arrested.
No official confirmation of the reported arrests was available at the time of filing.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026