Pakistani journalist says governor’s rule may be imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistani journalist Tahir Khan has said that as tensions rise between Pakistan’s federal government and the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, discussions are under way over the possible imposition of governor’s rule, or a state of emergency, in the province.

In a post on the social media platform X, he wrote that consultations over whether to impose governor’s rule in the province are continuing as federal officials and representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hold press conferences.

According to the journalist, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal government officials are monitoring political developments, while in contrast, Sohail Afridi, chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has spoken at public gatherings about launching a protest march toward Islamabad.

Tahir Khan warned that removing an elected government — if the federal government is considering such an option — would not only fail to solve security problems, but could deepen Pakistan’s political crisis.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of Pakistan’s key provinces bordering Afghanistan, and its political and security developments are important for the region, particularly because of cross-border ties and extensive movement.