President Asif Ali Zardari has declared a state of emergency in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, effectively suspending its provincial government. The move comes amid rising incidents of terrorism and a deteriorating law and order situation in the province, which borders Afghanistan.
The federal government cited a severe breakdown in law and order and militant violence as the reasons for the intervention. According to the Prime Minister's office, the cabinet move follows the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism. A politically allied official has been named as the person in charge of the region.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a stronghold and epicenter of support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The suspension occurs a week after Khan's supporters began marching to demand his release. A PTI spokesperson has described the declaration of emergency as more of a coup disguised as emergency.