Authorities in Pakistan have officially declared a state of emergency in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The drastic measure was invoked under two constitutional articles concerning national security, effectively suspending the provincial administration run by the opposition.

The affected regional government was operated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political faction affiliated with jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. President Asif Ali Zardari stated via social media that he had endorsed the recommendations put forward by the cabinet, which had convened earlier under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A formal statement released by Sharif’s office claimed that cabinet members reviewed the security situation and alleged a 'provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.' Observers note that such justifications are frequently employed by the central authorities to sideline political opponents.

This controversial development unfolds as the PTI has been actively organizing a mass march toward the capital, Islamabad, demanding the immediate release of Khan. Despite being imprisoned for over three years, Khan purportedly maintains substantial popular backing, raising concerns that the emergency decree could provoke severe societal friction.

Source: www.aljazeera.com