PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned against any attempt to impose governor’s rule or an emergency in the province, deepening a confrontation between the provincial leadership and the federal government.
Speaking to PTI supporters during the party’s ongoing long march on October 10, Afridi said he would not accept what he described as an illegal intervention in the provincial government. The remarks came amid speculation about possible federal measures over the province’s security and political situation.
President Asif Ali Zardari was briefed on security developments in KP as senior officials assessed the situation. Such briefings and political discussions do not mean that governor’s rule or an emergency has been imposed.
Separately, the KP Assembly Secretariat raised concerns about the reported withdrawal of security from provincial lawmakers. In a letter dated October 11, the speaker’s office asked the provincial police chief to restore any protection removed without lawful justification.
The dispute unfolds as PTI’s march continues through the province and its leadership discusses a possible movement towards Islamabad. The legal status of the provincial administration remains unchanged in the reporting reviewed for this draft.
Editorial verification sources: Dawn, updated October 11 — https://www.dawn.com/news/2036185 ; Arab News Pakistan, October 11 — https://www.arabnews.pk/pakistan/pakistan-president-briefed-on-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-security-as-government-weighs-emergency-3003801
Editorial caution: This is a developing story. Verify any official proclamation before publication.