Urdu Report Desk
The federal cabinet has approved the imposition of Governor’s Rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing the deteriorating law and order situation and rising terrorism in the province.
The decision was taken at a key cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Sunday. According to sources, the government intends to restore constitutional and administrative functions and improve security across the province.
Senior Political Leaders Attend Cabinet Meeting
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and federal ministers Rana Sanaullah, Talal Chaudhry, Amir Muqam, Rana Tanveer, Mustafa Kamal, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Attaullah Tarar, among other senior political and administrative figures.
Cabinet members expressed concern over terrorism and reportedly criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s approach to counterterrorism, describing its alleged disengagement from the fight against militancy as troubling.
Final Attempt Through Maulana Fazlur Rehman
According to sources, the cabinet decided to make a final attempt to resolve the matter through Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman before proceeding with a final decision.
During the cabinet meeting, Ishaq Dar contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman as part of this effort.
Constitutional Provisions for Emergency and Governor’s Rule
Sources said the federal cabinet had decided to invoke Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan for emergency measures and Governor’s Rule in the province.
Under the proposed arrangement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would take charge of the province’s administration and perform the relevant responsibilities following the imposition of Governor’s Rule.
The cabinet also decided to impose an emergency under Article 232 in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and adjoining districts.
Twelve Districts to Receive Special Security Measures
The government plans to address security challenges in 12 particularly affected districts through a separate and specialised strategy following the emergency’s imposition.
The districts are Kurram, Upper Waziristan, Lower Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
According to the report, the prime minister and the president agreed during a meeting on Saturday to consider emergency measures in these districts.
Parliamentary Sessions Summoned for Tuesday
A joint constitutional process is expected to follow, with meetings of both houses of Parliament summoned for Tuesday to consider the proposed measures.
The parliamentary proceedings are expected to address the overall situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and determine the next course of action regarding the decisions taken by the federal government.
Security Reports Highlight Rising Terrorism
The federal cabinet was also presented with two important security assessments prepared by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and intelligence agencies. The reports highlighted serious concerns about the province’s security and governance situation.
According to an intelligence report, terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa increased by 195 per cent between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026.
The report attributed the worsening threat to militant elements operating from Afghanistan, their local facilitators, shortcomings in the provincial government’s performance and insufficient attention to counterterrorism measures at the provincial level.
Police and Law Enforcement Agencies Among Main Targets
The security assessment stated that police and law enforcement agencies were directly targeted in 73 per cent of all terrorist attacks recorded in 2026.
The reports also highlighted a substantial increase in militants’ use of drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), raising concerns about the changing nature of security threats in the province.
Drone Attacks and Explosive Incidents Increase
According to the reports, no drone attacks against police and security agencies were recorded in 2024. By 2026, however, the number of militant drone attacks had risen to 170, representing an increase of approximately 107 per cent over the period cited in the report.
Landmine and IED attacks also remained a significant concern. A total of 181 such attacks were recorded in 2025, while 159 incidents had been reported by September 2026.
Shortages of Police Personnel and Security Equipment
The intelligence reports also identified major shortages in police resources and infrastructure across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
More than 9,000 positions in the provincial police force were reportedly vacant. Meanwhile, the province’s Safe City project remained limited to Peshawar.
Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) were also facing shortages of modern weapons, surveillance equipment, night-vision devices and thermal imaging technology.
The reports further noted that the lack of armoured vehicles in the terrorism-affected southern districts had seriously undermined police mobility and operational capacity.
Challenges Facing Merged Districts
The security assessments highlighted additional difficulties faced by police and the CTD in the merged districts, including shortages of trained personnel and inadequate dedicated infrastructure.
As a result, the CTD in these areas has had to rely on regular police resources to carry out its responsibilities.
The federal government’s proposed emergency measures are intended to address the province’s security and administrative challenges, with the next steps expected to be considered through the parliamentary process.
