PESHAWAR — President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed a presidential proclamation imposing emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of Pakistan’s Constitution, formally suspending the PTI-led provincial government and placing the province under governor-led administration with immediate effect, according to a Gazette of Pakistan notification.
The proclamation, signed on the prime minister’s advice after a federal cabinet decision, states that the provincial government “cannot be run in accordance with the Constitution in the current circumstances.”
How the province is being run now
Through Federal Government Order No. 1/2026, the federal government has directed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to exercise the functions of the provincial government on its behalf. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the governor “will now exercise provincial powers as mandated by the Constitution.”
An 11-member advisory council has been appointed to aid and assist the governor. Its members, as reported by Pakistani outlets citing the federal order, are Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Dr. Amir Abdullah, retired Lt. Gen. Nigar Johar, Samar Bilour, Dr. Sarfraz Ali, Amir Javed, Dr. M. Irshad, Kifayat Ullah, Tayyab Qureshi, Usman Saifullah Khan and Asif Rafiq. Official portfolios have not been announced. Sana Ullah has been appointed the province’s advocate general, and Dr. Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan has been appointed chief secretary.
What happened to the elected government
Under the proclamation, the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general “immediately cease to hold office.” The provincial assembly has not been dissolved: its powers are now exercisable by or under the authority of Pakistan’s Parliament, with the assembly effectively in abeyance.
How long the emergency lasts
The proclamation lapses after two months unless approved by Parliament. Under Article 234, it cannot remain in force for more than six months in total. Sessions of the National Assembly and Senate are scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, to consider approval.
Why the government says it acted
A statement from the prime minister’s office said the cabinet took note of the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said there was “no room left” to avoid the emergency given the decay in law and order in the province, which sits on the front line of a militant insurgency.
PTI’s response
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called the move a “grave political mistake,” saying the province’s electoral mandate must be respected, and pledged to challenge it through constitutional, legal and democratic forums. No court filing has been reported as of Sunday. Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide to Imran Khan, called it “a disguised coup,” saying “now that little bit of democracy is also gone.” Chief Minister Sohail Afridi defied the proclamation, ordering the police chief and chief secretary to ignore “unconstitutional or illegal orders” from Islamabad; the party’s core committee formally rejected the emergency.
Security situation
The Associated Press reported that police detained several PTI supporters overnight and that authorities deployed additional security forces in the province and in Islamabad to prevent unrest. Pakistani media, citing an Interior Ministry notification, reported an army deployment under Article 245 to assist the civil administration; this has not been independently confirmed by international news agencies. A PTI claim that Chief Minister Afridi was taken into custody has not been confirmed by federal authorities or independent reporting.
Communications disruptions and reported school closure
Mobile-phone and internet service disruptions were reported across parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, October 11, as security restrictions tightened. Daily Aaj reported mobile-service suspensions in Mardan, Malakand and Batkhela, while Mashriq TV reported disruptions affecting Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and parts of Malakand. A separate report said mobile service was suspended across Bajaur. The precise extent, timing and duration of outages vary by location and have not been independently established for every district. An unverified circulating message claims a complete voice-and-data shutdown across Peshawar, Mardan and Malakand divisions starting at 1 a.m. October 11; Zark News has not obtained an official directive confirming that broader claim.
A document circulating as a notification from the Peshawar deputy commissioner, bearing reference DC (MPS) 164 and dated October 11, orders public and private schools, colleges and universities in Peshawar district to close on Monday, October 12, with examinations cancelled. Zark News has reviewed an image of the document but has not independently authenticated it with the district administration. Students and families should confirm arrangements directly with their educational institutions or official district channels.
Sources for reported disruptions: Daily Aaj; Mashriq TV; Pakistan Connect. The closure document was supplied to Zark News as an unverified image.
What’s next
Parliament takes up the proclamation on Tuesday. Unresolved: whether lawmakers approve it, how long the emergency ultimately lasts, and whether PTI follows through on its threatened march on Islamabad or its pledged legal challenge.
Updated October 11, 2026. Sources: Gazette of Pakistan; Office of the President of Pakistan; Federal Cabinet Division; Reuters; The Associated Press; Dawn.
