Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Monday that the now-dysfunctional Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and some cabinet members were taken into preventive custody. "Yes, I can confirm that the chief minister and some of his cabinet members have been taken into preventive custody," Minister Talal Chaudhry told the media.
If any of them have cases to be tried against them, they will be charged and tried, but the others will be released, he said, adding that the detentions happened on Sunday. President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday proclaimed an emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, citing the province's worsening security situation.
"The President approved and signed the summary upon the Prime Minister's advice under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan," the President Secretariat's Media Wing said in a press release. The decision followed recommendations from the federal cabinet, formal advice from the prime minister, and law-and-order reports submitted by relevant security institutions.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while condemning the imposition of emergency and governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, called the move a "grave political mistake." In a post on X, Gohar warned that the federal government's decision would undermine democratic rights and provincial autonomy.
The emergency rule came a week after supporters of the PTI founder had rallied for days in the province, intending to march to Islamabad to demand his release and provide medical treatment. The march began in Lakki Marwat on 4 October after negotiations between the government and opposition failed to reach an agreement.
The talks broke down over disagreements concerning counterterrorism cooperation in KP and access to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, including a meeting with his personal doctor. The government and opposition traded accusations over the failure to reach an agreement as Afridi continued leading the march through the province.
Political analysts suggest that the situation remains fluid, with the federal government maintaining that the move was necessary to restore order. Meanwhile, PTI leadership has called for peaceful protests across the country to challenge the suspension of the provincial government.
Legal experts are currently reviewing the constitutional implications of the governor's rule, noting that the federal government must present the proclamation before the Parliament for approval within the stipulated timeframe as per the Constitution. As the political temperature rises, security forces have been deployed in key areas of Peshawar and other major cities of the province to prevent any untoward incidents.
The federal government has urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies during this period of transition. The international community is closely monitoring the developments in Pakistan, with various diplomatic missions expressing concern over the political instability and calling for a peaceful resolution through dialogue and adherence to democratic processes.