PTI challenges governor’s rule in KP in Peshawar High Court
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Peshawar High Court, seeking to have the federal government’s decision declared void.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan filed the petition on Wednesday through Advocate Ali Zaman, requesting the court to set aside the governor’s rule and fix the case for an early hearing.
The development came as the federal government secured the National Assembly’s approval for the presidential proclamation imposing an emergency in the province under Article 232 of the Constitution.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament House, Barrister Gohar questioned the justification for imposing emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the grounds of deteriorating law and order.
He argued that if the situation warranted such measures, similar action should also be considered in other parts of the country, including governor’s rule in Balochistan and an emergency in the riverine areas known as the katcha region.
In the National Assembly, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the federal government’s decision, citing rising terrorist attacks, internal unrest and cross-border infiltration.
He said the federal cabinet had deliberated on the situation for two and a half hours before recommending emergency rule to the prime minister. The decision was subsequently taken under Article 232 of the Constitution.
Presenting figures in the house, the law minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 2,911 terrorist incidents between 2021 and 2024. He said the number rose to 3,787 between October 15, 2025, and October 9, 2026.
Tarar accused the provincial government of failing to address the security situation, arguing that the federal and provincial administrations should have worked together to counter terrorism and acknowledge the sacrifices of security personnel and civilians.
He also criticised former chief minister Sohail Afridi, alleging that political activities and statements about marching on Islamabad had taken priority over maintaining law and order.
The government has said it pursued negotiations before taking the decision. According to Tarar, a team comprising Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam held talks with opposition representatives over two days at the speaker’s chamber.
He claimed that discussions on counterterrorism were overshadowed by demands concerning the release and facilities of PTI founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala jail.
Tarar said such matters could be addressed through the courts or under Article 45 of the Constitution, which empowers the president to grant pardons and other forms of clemency.
Under Article 232, an emergency proclamation requires parliamentary approval within 10 days, the minister said.
The Senate was also scheduled to consider a separate resolution on the emergency, while a joint sitting of Parliament was due to meet on Thursday to consider approval of the presidential orders relating to governor’s rule under Article 234.