DID Press: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protest march demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has entered its seventh day. As the convoy continues through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, speculation has intensified over the possible dissolution of the provincial government and the potential imposition of governor’s rule or a state of emergency in the province.
The protest convoy, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reached Charsadda on Saturday. The city is located around 150 km from Islamabad and is one of the stops along the protest route.
After a stop in Mardan, the convoy is scheduled to proceed towards Swabi. Afridi has said PTI will announce its next course of action on October 13, a decision that could shape the next phase of the protests and the party’s political pressure on the federal government.
During his address, Afridi criticised the federal government over what he described as the non-payment of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. He also rejected federal government allegations that the provincial administration had failed to perform effectively, particularly in counterterrorism.
Meanwhile, discussion has intensified over the possibility of dissolving the provincial government or imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s federal government has said it has completed deliberations on a possible emergency, but no final decision has been announced. The dispute comes amid growing tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration over counterterrorism policy.
Under Article 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution, the president may issue a proclamation allowing federal intervention if the provincial government cannot be carried on in accordance with constitutional provisions. Such a proclamation is subject to parliamentary approval. For now, the possibility of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency remains under discussion, and any such move would depend on the relevant constitutional procedures and decisions by the competent authorities.