Cabinet Approves Governor’s Rule, Emergency Measures in KP
News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has reportedly approved the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and emergency measures in selected districts, citing deteriorating law and order and escalating militant violence in the province.
The decision was reportedly taken during a special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Sunday. However, the proposed measures are subject to the relevant constitutional procedures and parliamentary proceedings before they can be implemented.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and several other senior federal ministers.
According to sources, cabinet members voiced serious concerns over the security situation in KP, alleging that the provincial government’s approach and insufficient cooperation in counterterrorism efforts had compounded the challenges.
Sources said the cabinet agreed to make a final effort to resolve the political impasse through Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. During the meeting, Ishaq Dar reportedly contacted the JUI-F leader to pursue further political consultations.
The cabinet has reportedly approved the proposed measures under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. If governor’s rule is formally imposed, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would assume the responsibilities provided for under the applicable constitutional framework.
Sources also indicated that an emergency under Article 232 was proposed for the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and adjoining regions.
Emergency Plan Targets 12 Districts
The federal government is also considering emergency measures in 12 KP districts facing significant security challenges, according to sources.
The districts named in the proposal are Kurram, Upper Waziristan, Lower Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan.
The proposal reportedly followed consultations between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on possible responses to the province’s deteriorating security situation.
A joint session of Parliament has been summoned for Tuesday, during which the government is expected to seek parliamentary approval for its proposed course of action regarding KP.
The precise scope of the proposed measures remains unclear, particularly the distinction between an emergency confined to specific districts and governor’s rule affecting the provincial administration as a whole.
Security Reports Point to Rising Militant Attacks
Two security assessments prepared by the KP Police and intelligence agencies were reportedly presented to the federal cabinet, highlighting the province’s security challenges and deficiencies in law enforcement capacity.
Figures attributed to an intelligence agency report show that terrorist incidents in KP increased by 195 per cent between March 1, 2024, and September 23, 2026.
The report further states that police and other law enforcement agencies were the direct targets of 73 per cent of terrorist attacks recorded in 2026.
Security officials have also raised concerns over the growing use of drones and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by militant groups. According to the supplied figures, no drone attacks targeting police and security agencies were recorded in 2024, while 170 such attacks were reported in 2026.
The report also records 181 landmine and IED attacks in 2025, followed by 159 incidents between January and September 2026.
The intelligence assessment attributes the deteriorating security situation partly to militant activity and alleged weaknesses in the provincial government’s counterterrorism response. The figures and allegations contained in the reports have not been independently verified.
KP Police Grapples With More Than 9,000 Vacancies
The security assessments also highlight substantial shortages of personnel, equipment and infrastructure within the KP Police and the provincial Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).
More than 9,000 positions in the provincial police force reportedly remain vacant, while the Safe City project continues to operate only in Peshawar rather than covering the province as a whole.
The police and CTD are also facing shortages of modern weapons, surveillance systems, night-vision equipment and thermal imaging devices, according to the reports.
In southern districts severely affected by militancy, the reported lack of armoured vehicles has limited police mobility and operational effectiveness.
The assessments further point to shortages of trained personnel and dedicated infrastructure in the merged tribal districts. These gaps have reportedly forced the CTD to rely on the regular police force for certain operational requirements.
The reported cabinet decision comes amid escalating tensions between Islamabad and the PTI-led provincial government, with counterterrorism cooperation and the worsening security situation emerging as central issues in the dispute.
However, the reported cabinet approval should not be taken as confirmation that governor’s rule or a state of emergency has formally come into force. The implementation of any such measures will depend on the applicable constitutional requirements, official notifications and parliamentary proceedings.
