Government considers emergency or governor’s rule in KP ahead of PTI Oct 4 march

Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser briefs the media at the residence of MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan.—Dawn • Former NA speaker Asad Qaiser says party will proceed as planned• Emergency or governor’s rule could benefit ‘non-democratic powers’, warns Barrister Gohar CHARSADDA: The PTI leadership on Wednesday reiterated that the party would not postpone its protest march scheduled for Oct­o­ber 4, warning the governm­e­­nt that imposing emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakht­un­khwa would not resolve the issue. Talking to reporters at the Sheikhabad residence of MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, who was allegedly abducted by unidentified individuals on Sept 22, former National Assembly speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qai­ser said there was no possibility of postponing the march and that the party would proceed with its planned programme on Oct 4. He also alleged that PTI fou­n­der Imran Khan was being deprived of fundamental human rights, urging the federal government to set aside what he called personal interests and focus on the welfare of the country and aits people. He questioned whether the treatment being meted out to elected representatives was consistent with the principles of respect for the vote. On reports about the possibility of governor’s rule in KP, Mr Qaiser said that if such a step was taken, the PTI would challenge it through legal means and there would also be a public reaction. He said the government should avoid policies that could increase confrontation between the state and its citizens. Separately, speaking to the media at Parliament House in Islamabad, interim PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that imposing emergency or governor’s rule was not the solution to the protest march. He warned that non-democratic powers would benefit if emergency were imposed. He assured that the march would be peaceful. He said it was unfortunate that the government and opposition were making claims but there were no meaningful negotiations. Talking about the situation in KP, Asad Qaiser said an Apex Committee meeting should be convened to discuss what he described as serious law and order problems in the province. He called for implementation of the National Action Plan, saying that restoration of peace was essential for economic activity and employment opportunities. The PTI leader accused the federal government of a ‘discriminatory’ attitude towards the province and urged it to end political differences with KP through constitutional means. Mr Qaiser said the PTI wanted a system based on justice and the rule of law. He alleged that the political system was being pushed against the wall and warned that such a situation could have serious consequences. He said the state was expected to protect its citizens and questioned whether the country could progress amid the prevailing political circumstances. The ex-NA speaker also commented on the remarks of PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai, saying that party members should respect one another’s right to express their opinions within the organisation. Asked about the letter, Barrister Gohar said it was Mr Yousafzai’s personal opinion, but he was still very much part of the party’s leadership. Mr Yousafzai had written a letter to the party demanding that the march be postponed. Later, he broke down during a live TV show when he was asked about the trolling he had faced on social media and being called a traitor. Ikram Junaidi in Islamabad also contributed to this report Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Islamabad: The Pakistan government is "seriously considering" the imposition of an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in light of the worsening security situation and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned protest march on Islamabad, according to a report by Dawn.Also Watch: The ruling coalition has warned of sending the PTI-led provincial administration in KP packing through governor’s rule or a state of emergency if the provincial leadership fails to call off its planned march to Islamabad on October 4, Dawn reported. The march, organised to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, has emerged as a major point of confrontation between the federal government and the opposition.Speaking to media persons at Parliament House on Wednesday (local time), Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said, “The provincial government’s lack of interest or success in controlling it (terrorism) is the reason for which the imposition of emergency under Article 232 is being discussed,” as reported by Dawn. The minister also expressed confidence that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) key coalition ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), would back the move.At Least 16 Killed, 50 Injured In Suspected Suicide Attack In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Responding to the development, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that if the federal administration consults his party regarding the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, the party will "give its views strictly in accordance with the Constitution and law," according to a press release cited by Dawn.Describing the law and order situation in the province as “deeply concerning,” Bukhari stated that while peaceful protest remains a fundamental democratic right, "attacking the state under the guise of politics" is completely unacceptable.“The government must ensure the rule of law and take effective measures to maintain peace and security,” Dawn quoted Bukhari as stating. He added that the PPP maintains faith in political dialogue and that national challenges can only be resolved "through meaningful political engagement." (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

• Shehbaz to meet PPP leaders to discuss KP issues, protest threat• Sherry, Qamar meet PML-N leaders• Tariq Fazal says ‘emergency’ in KP under consideration due to ‘terrorism’• Nayyar Bokhari urges talks, says Constitution provides remedies if govt fails to fulfil responsibilities ISLAMABAD: As political challenges mount for the PML-N government in light of multiple planned protests, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif plans to hold extensive consultations with his allies to discuss the political and security situation, particularly in Khyber Pakht­unkhwa ruled by archrival PTI. A source in the Prime Minister’s House told Dawn that the PM was likely to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party was invited to a planned opposition multiparty moot. The premier is expected to discuss the imposition of the governor’s rule in KP, apparently due to a rise in terrorism. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on President Zardari recently in Karachi — a visit seen as quite significant against the backdrop of discussions on the governor’s rule in the PTI-ruled province. The PM had decided to take the president and the PPP into confidence after this meeting. Appearing on TV, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the PM was briefed on the current political situation soon after he arrived from the United States. “The PM was also apprised that the government reserved the right (to impose emergency) under the Constitution,” he said. Over the past week, the KP government had been warned that the Centre would have no other option but to impose the governor’s rule in the province in light of the security situation and the PTI’s protest call on Oct 4. The opposition party had warned the government of dire consequences if such a decision was imposed. However, a meeting between the PM and the National Assembly opposition lea­der, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, can also take place to defuse the crisis, since the PM had extended an invitation to the opposition leader to sit together for consultations on the issues of national impor­tance and those related to the PTI before leaving for the US. The PTI march on Isl­a­mabad would commence on Oct 4, and a meeting with the opposition would bear fruit for the government before this date. Similarly, PM Shehbaz is also expected to meet Jamaat-i-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to discuss the petroleum levy. He had warned of resuming his march in the first week of October if the talks with the PM did not succeed. Ruling allies meet Meanwhile, a delegation-level meeting between the PML-N and the PPP took place on Wednesday in the chamber of the National Assembly speaker. PPP’s Sherry Rehman and Syed Naveed Qamar met Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry to discuss KP’s fate. After the meeting, Law Minister Tarar told reporters at Parliament House that emergency was also discussed with the PPP members. “Imposition of the governor’s rule is a constitutional right which can be imposed when the situation requires it. In KP, people are martyred every day,” he added. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told media persons that imposition of emergency through Article 232 of the Constitution was under consideration due to terrorism in KP. “Emergency can be imposed not because of any political reason but due to increasing terrorism in the province,” he added. He claimed that the PPP would support all decisions of the government on security issues. Following the meeting, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and apparently discussed the legislation to be tabled in parliament, while also apprising the premier of the PPP’s stance on imposition of governor’s rule in KP. A source in the NA Secretariat told Dawn that the PPP and the government discussed four important bills to be presented in the forthcoming session of the National Assembly. They included Port Qasim Authority (Amendment) Bill, Gwadar Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, Karachi Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, and Life Insurance Nationalization (Amendment) Bill. The source said the PPP has agreed on three bills while one was rejected. Another source in the NA Secretariat said the bills were related to the directives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Earlier, PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari said that the party will offer its recommendations within the framework of the Constitution and law if it is asked to share an opinion on the governor’s rule, seemingly to control the PTI. In a statement, he said the Constitution provided a course of action if the provincial government failed to fulfil its constitutional and administrative responsibilities. “The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is extremely alarming,” Mr Bukhari said, adding that residents in various parts of the province, including the chief minister’s home district, were forced to remain indoors after sunset. Mr Bukhari said the PTI priorities appeared to be focused on the release of one individual rather than resolving public issues. He said the use of provincial resources for a march on Islamabad and the use of government authority for political purposes were matters of concern. Mr Bukhari said the PPP had always believed in political dialogue and negotiations, adding that the party had held talks even with its fiercest political opponents because national issues could be resolved through dialogue rather than force and confrontation. Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the federal government was “seriously considering” imposing an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government has threatened to send the PTI government in KP packing by imposing governor’s rule or an emergency if the provincial leadership does not withdraw its plan to march on Islamabad on Oct 4. The march — which the PTI has announced as part of its nationwide protest to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan — remains a major bone of contention between the government and the main opposition party, with both taking entrenched positions. The federal ministers have also cited the security situation in KP in this connection. In his latest remarks on the matter, Chaudhry while speaking to the media at Parliament House again referred to the security situation in KP and said the federal government was “seriously considering” the imposition of emergency in the province. “The provincial government’s lack of interest or success in controlling it (terrorism) is the reason for which the imposition of emergency under Article 232 is being discussed,” he said, expressing confidence that the PPP — an ally of the ruling PML-N in the Centre — would also cooperate in this regard. Separately, PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said that if the federal government consulted the party about imposing governor’s rule in KP, the party would “give its views strictly in accordance with the Constitution and law”. According to a press release by the PPP, he called the law and order situation in the province deeply concerning. Bukhari said peaceful protest was a democratic right, but “attacking the state under the guise of politics” was unacceptable. “The government must ensure the rule of law and take effective measures to maintain peace and security,” the statement quoted Bukhari as saying. He added the PPP had always believed in dialogue and that national issues could only be resolved “through meaningful political engagement”. Regarding the invitation from the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) for a multiparty conference, Bukhari said the matter would be considered by the PPP’s Central Executive Committee, which would take the final decision, according to the press release. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed opposition to the imposition of a state of emergency or governor’s rule in KP, saying that it was “not the solution to the long march”. He warned that “non-democratic powers” would benefit if a state of emergency was imposed. Speaking to the media at Parliament House, he reiterated that the long march would be peaceful. Additional reporting by Ikram Junaidi

PESHAWAR/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed the resolve on Tuesday to go ahead with the PTI’s planned march to Islamabad on Oct 4, saying that the protesters would reach Swabi in the first phase. His assertion comes as the march — which the PTI has announced as part of its nationwide protest to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan — remains a major bone of contention between the government and the main opposition party, with both taking entrenched positions. The government has even threatened to send the PTI government in KP packing by imposing the governor’s rule or an emergency if its leadership did not withdraw its plan to march on Islamabad. Afridi, however, sounded defiant while addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Tuesday. He said the planned protest would be “unmatched in the country’s history”, adding in its first phase, the protesters would reach Swabi, which borders Punjab. After reaching Swabi, he continued, “we must move forward“. Afridi also warned against any “adventure” and said the “people of KP will protect their mandate as they did during the February 8 general elections”. The KP CM also accused the ruling PML-N of conspiring to include its workers in PTI ranks to sow chaos. “We are peaceful and our workers will be unarmed; anyone holding anything in his hand or creating chaos would not be from amongst us,” he said. Afridi said that there was a chain of command of workers involved in the march and in case of the disappearance of a leader, another person would replace him. In response to a question about backdoor contacts with the government, he said that the party leadership might have such contacts, but he had been tasked with the resistance. Coming back to his criticism of the Centre, he said the federal government had the same counterterrorism policy in KP for the past 22 years and it had been unable to put an end to terrorism. Only the province could do this, he added. On Monday, federal ministers slammed the PTI and Afridi for focusing on the party’s planned long march rather than the security challenges that KP was facing. They highlighted flaws in the KP government’s “leadership” and use of resources to fight terrorism and even presented a white paper on the KP government’s “failure” to equip police with sophisticated weapons. In response, Afridi panned the Centre’s counterterrorism policy. Meanwhile, calls from federal representatives for imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in KP intensified, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar saying that such a move could be made if required. The minister also cited the security situation in KP in this connection. Kundi, Sanaullah say imposing governor’s rule, emergency can be considered On Tuesday, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi joined the chorus and said governor’s rule or an emergency could be imposed in the province if lawlessness and political unrest continued to increase. Speaking to journalists in Dera Ismail Khan at the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, after visiting those injured in a Sept 26 attack on Aman Mela checkpost, Kundi said he was regularly briefing the president on the situation in the province. “I keep my president informed about the situation in KP. Whatever decision he takes will be implemented,” he said. Kundi said the possibility of imposing governor’s rule was covered in the Constitution, and could be considered if the president and prime minister deemed it necessary. The governor also criticised the PTI for announcing its long march to Islamabad, and warned that action would be taken against anyone who took the law into their own hands. He also questioned the party’s ability to carry out its march, saying: “Let them first cross Swabi.” The governor said KP was facing serious security challenges and called for collective efforts to combat terrorism. He criticised the provincial government for focusing on political confrontation and long marches instead of addressing the security situation. Separately, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also referred to the security situation in KP and said it was affecting both civilians and law enforcers. Speaking on the news programme ‘Nadeem Malik Live’ on Samaa, he alleged that the provincial government was not making efforts to curb terrorism and, instead, was getting in the way of the federal government that was trying to keep the peace and stop terrorists. “They do not fulfill their legal and constitutional responsibilities, and they create problems for the federal government, such as announcing the long march,” he remarked. In such situations, Sanaullah added, “all options” were on the table, including the imposition of an emergency. “The Centre can take control of the province and appoint anyone as an administrator,” he said, further suggesting that governor’s rule could also be considered. Then there was political dialogue, he said. “These three options are on the table,” he said, adding that “we will proceed once we make a final decision”. He also said that the PTI may pursue its political demands, but on terrorism, it had to stand with the Centre and condemn terrorism. “They have to fulfill their legal and constitutional responsibility to fight terrorism,” he said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday struck a defiant tone and again panned the Centre’s counterterrorism policy as federal ministers railed against his government’s efforts to combat terrorism. Afridi, who was elected as the KP CM in October 2025, has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the federal government’s policies on counterterrorism and Afghanistan. Earlier in the day, Kashmir affairs and frontier regions minister Amir Muqam held a press conference in Peshawar, where he slammed the PTI and Afridi for focusing on the party’s planned long march rather than the security challenge that KP was facing. Later, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, during a press briefing in Islamabad, highlighted flaws in the KP government’s “leadership” and use of resources to fight terrorism. This was followed by another press conference in Peshawar, where the prime minister’s coordinator to KP, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, and MNA Samar Haroon Bilour presented a white paper on the KP government’s “failure” to equip police with sophisticated weapons. Meanwhile, addressing a meeting regarding law and order in Peshawar, the KP CM stressed that merely providing resources to the police would not solve the problem until there was a policy shift. “We repeatedly stated that the state’s current policy was flawed. The blood of our Pakhtuns will flow again,” Afridi said, regretting that federal ministers “dismissed our repeated warnings as propaganda and lies”. The chief minister highlighted that he had been consistently calling for a change to the “failed policy of 22 years”. The PTI leader declared he would not back down from his stance over threats of imposition of governor’s rule or a state of emergency. Afridi called for a new counterterrorism policy to be formulated that took all stakeholders into confidence, including the provincial government, administration and police. He contended that if the new policy was implemented as proposed, peace could be restored in KP within 100 days — “yet no one is willing to listen”. “Some people act as if they know it all and are unwilling to listen to the stakeholders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said. “Where is the country being led? Is the blood of our people so cheap that it should be sacrificed for the sake of politics?” CM Afridi also defended his government’s performance, recalling that it had diverted Rs35 billion from the development budget to the police force, doubling its allocation. He added that the Special Branch was being stabilised and modern weaponry and essential gear were being provided to the police force. The KP CM went on to accuse the federal government of adopting a “dual-standard policy”: “one for the favourites and another for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, terming this unacceptable. He again expressed concern over Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s comments that the other three provinces posed a threat rather than India, noting that she was contradicting the state’s stance that New Delhi had a role in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan. “Federal ministers label the residents of KP as terrorists and savages; they are forgiven because they are favourites … no action is taken against them,” the PTI leader said. Azam Tarar says governor’s rule or emergency can happen Meanwhile, calls from federal representatives for imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in KP intensified, with Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar saying that such a move could be made if required. “If such conditions, where the constitution demands governor’s rule to be implemented or an emergency declared, are there or they arise, it can and will definitely happen,” he told Geo News. “If the mechanism in the constitution requires it, all these things will happen,” Azam said. In his media talk at Peshawar Press Club, Muqam said “all conditions” required by the law for imposing governor’s rule existed. Criticising Afridi’s governance, Muqam asserted that his “CM-ship would not continue and no one will be able to save him”. “Afridi sahib, be ready, you will be behind bars. You will be held accountable for the loot and plundering you have done,” the minister said. He criticised the PTI’s alleged lack of concern regarding the security challenges, contending that the party did not have enough public support. The federal minister described the Afridi-led provincial government as a complete failure on all fronts, claiming that it had neglected public welfare and that corruption was widespread in KP. Muqam further said that PTI leaders were conducting political activities across the country and did not appear to have any fear of terrorist attacks, even as other parties’ leaders faced such threats. Separately, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi held a meeting with Muqam to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and political developments, state-run APP reported. NA Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Fatihullah Khan Miankhel, National Democratic Movement (NDM) chief Mohsin Dawar, PPP Parliamentary Leader in KP Assembly Ahmad Kundi and MPA Sobia Khan were among those present. The participants exchanged views on the prevailing security situation, political uncertainty and other issues, and “deliberated on a number of proposals”, the APP report said. The leaders expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of insecurity in the province and termed the worsening situation a result of what they described as the provincial government’s failure to maintain law and order. Speaking to the media, Kundi warned the PTI government not to “force the Centre” to impose governor’s rule and urged it to further postpone its long march currently set for Oct 4. Kundi said that in his opinion, governor’s rule could be imposed if the federal government deemed it necessary “to save the province”. “Fire is raging here,” he said while speaking on the province’s security situation. “I advise the provincial government to postpone their long march due to the law and order situation, call all stakeholders and political parties to discuss peace in the province, and fight terrorism on the frontline.” He contended that the PTI wanted to march on Islamabad and “spread chaos” even when terrorist incidents in KP were claiming people’s lives. ‘KP’s incompetent leadership’ In Islamabad, the state minister for interior said the PTI-led KP government had not made adequate efforts to combat terrorism. He noted that a political leadership could “provide three things in the fight against terrorism: leadership, resources and powers”. Chaudhry contended that the provincial administration in KP — where the PTI has been in power since 2013 — “did not provide leadership to the security forces over the past 14 years”. The interior official accused the PTI-led government of “creating space” for terrorists. “If Pakistan is burning in the fire of terrorism, it is because of KP’s incompetent leadership,” he maintained. Chaudhry then noted that it was the provincial government’s responsibility to allocate funds for counter-terrorism in the budget. “[Then], why did you not provide the resources?” he asked, adding that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) was still not functional in the entire province. “Your forces cannot fight unarmed. You do not have bulletproof jackets, cars, training, CTD, Safe City [project], or a forensic lab,” he said, claiming that Safe City projects had been completed on the tehsil level as well in Punjab. The state minister sought accountability from KP over the usage of even one per cent of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which he said amounted to Rs800 billion. Chaudhry pointed out that Afridi and his information minister did not attend the funeral prayers of the victims of the Sept 18 Kohat blast, but were rather “busy in their street movement or other matters”. He recalled that the KP CM held a “very lengthy” press conference in Dera Ismail Khan in the wake of Saturday’s suicide blast, which claimed 12 lives. “Why did they not condemn Afghanistan? Why do you have a soft attitude on Afghanistan? Why do you deliberately employ such ambiguity and demeanour, and do not openly condemn or name the real enemy or from where these proxies operate?” he asked. Chaudhry reiterated his criticism of the recent KP Police Act, which has been proposed to replace a 2017 version and is aimed at curtailing the powers of the provincial inspector general (IG). He also responded to PTI’s allegation that the party had not been included in discussions about war on terrorism, saying that the party leadership did not show up to meetings when invited. “You come to Islamabad to demand NFC funds, but your CM does not show up for anti-terrorism meetings,” Chaudhry said. Speaking alongside him, Tarar said PTI had not taken ownership of the fight against terrorism, again terming the party as the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) “B team”. He alleged that PTI had facilitated terrorists in its over 12 years of governing KP and that it was not condemning them as it “suits PTI’s financial interests”. “Sohail Afridi organised a ceremony and two Afghans did not stand up to pay respect to the national anthem. If I was there, I would have dealt with them right then and there. I would have banned them,” Tarar said. Such an incident took place in September 2024, when PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur was serving as the chief minister. Tarar went on to highlight that the KP government had not ensured the registration of all vehicles yet, as doing so makes the “surveillance of terrorists easier”. He added that potential revenue generated from car registration could have been used for the benefit of the people of KP. “You sacrificed the security of the entire province for your political gains. “You will now have to decide if you are with Pakistan or with Afghanistan. It is as clear as that,” the information minister declared. Afghanistan’s ‘true face’ During his press conference, Chaudhry also highlighted the Afghan Taliban’s support for terrorist activities in Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to TTP, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded. The state minister noted that terrorist “proxies are financed by our eastern border and their hideouts are on the western border”. He emphasised that Islamabad had employed “every way” to convey its concerns to Kabul, including dialogue, dossiers and international forums, but to no avail. Referring to the recent attack on a rescue vehicle carrying DI Khan blast victims, Chaudhry said that attacking rescue teams was not allowed even during war. “This is their true face. Is this jihad? Even an enemy with some rules does not carry out such attacks.” He said such terrorist activities were carried out in exchange for receiving funds in dollars, which were proportional to the number of casualties. The interior official asserted that Pakistan had the “best systems” for investigating the identity of a suspected terrorist. “Very few countries have enough data that in less than a minute, any heinous crime or terrorist incident-related information can be accessed in Nadra and other databases […] we instantly find out whether they are Pakistanis [or not].” He then recalled that when authorities did not find any details in the database for a recent incident, they used open-source intelligence and geolocated a terrorist’s picture to Kabul’s Pashtunistan Square. September witnessed another bout of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the former saying it struck terrorist sites in the border region in response to a recent spate of terrorist attacks. Pakistan conducted “aerial and drone strikes” in another 10 locations across Afghanistan in retaliation for drones launched from across the border that were shot down in KP. The Foreign Office (FO) has said a demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on Saturday on account of the Sept 23 airspace violation by drones.

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday struck a conciliatory tone, offering to resolve issues with the federal government through dialogue but warned that any “misadventure” could result in serious repercussions. The PTI had been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. However, CM Afridi announced a day ago that the march has been postponed to Oct 4. Speaking to journalists during an informal discussion at KP House, Afridi said that his party had agreed to postpone the march to try and find amicable solutions to the issues through dialogue. However, he warned that any “misadventure” could lead the situation to a point of no return. Moreover, Afridi said that the federal government had 52 days to consider these demands, claiming the Centre was seeking time to discuss the issues. “We are not an armed group”, he asserted. “We want issues resolved through dialogue. No one has refused to engage in a dialogue.” The KP CM insisted that the PTI’s demands were genuine, including allowing Imran medical treatment at a private hospital in Islamabad, as well as granting him access to his lawyers, relatives and the court-nominated 18 party members. CM Afridi stressed that he had approached courts and written to the federal government for permission to meet the jailed ex-premier, but was “forced” to announce the Islamabad march in August as concerns regarding Imran’s health persisted. Asked about speculations regarding the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, the chief minister said his supporters will be “on the road on a 24-hour notice”. “They would not be able to afford my removal,” he contended. Asked if there was any likely successor in the event of his removal from his office, the KP CM replied that it would be Imran’s prerogative. Afridi had been elected as the chief minister in October 2025, after the PTI founder had told Ali Amin Gandapur to resign. The chief minister also criticised his counterpart in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and others for allegedly singling out Pakhtuns, claiming that there was a “well-hatched conspiracy” to divide Pakistan. “We are patriotic Pakistanis, and we are peaceful people. We will not allow any conspiracy to succeed,” he said. Defending his performance as the chief minister, Afridi highlighted that his government met high revenue targets and provided resources to the police to fight terrorism in the province. The PTI leader also reiterated his criticism of the federal government’s current Afghanistan policy and its failure to overcome terrorism. Afridi recalled that he had presented his own plan to the country’s military and civilian leadership to restore peace in the province by re-engaging with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, reopening the border and ending the distinction between the so-called “good and bad Taliban”. In the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory, security measures and preparations to deal with any emergency situation remain in place despite the postponement of the march. Punjab had already imposed a ban on gatherings across the province until Oct 5 and prohibited inciting people to “unlawful assembly”. A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months. The federal government has also approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5. Info minister calls Afridi a ‘coward’ Meanwhile, Information Minister Tarar defended the Centre’s counterterrorism policy and slammed the KP chief minister for his stance on the issue. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside the prime minister’s coordinator for KP Ikhtiar Wali, Tarar said: “Sohail Khan Afridi has lost his credibility and does not fight terrorists. “Why do I call him a coward? This is the one party that is the TTP’s B-team and the TTA’s C-team,” he said, referring to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan. “He does not want to take ownership of operations against terrorists, nor does he believe in them. Nor has he done anything, because of cowardice,” Tarar added. He claimed that the PTI had become weaker than ever and lost its political standing, alleging that the party had links with terrorists and was reluctant to condemn militant activities. “You don’t want to fight terrorism, and you are finished on the political front as well.” The minister asserted, “Our policy is not cowardice. We say openly that terrorists will be eliminated completely.” Recognising the sacrifices made by the police and security forces, Tarar emphasised that the government was determined to completely eliminate terrorism. “In 2026, over 4,600 suicide attacks may have happened, over 400 people may have been killed and over 1,500 injured, but will the provincial government listen?” he said. Speaking about the PTI’s march, he remarked, “They said they will come for the march at their own time […] You can claim it is your choice, but it is not your decision and it is not your march.”

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Friday that the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad, which was originally scheduled for Sept 27, would now commence from Peshawar on Oct 4. The announcement by the KP CM came during a press conference in Peshawar, where he said the PTI’s political committee had held a meeting and “unanimously agreed” to now commence the march on Oct 4 from Peshawar. “This struggle of ours is just for the supremacy of the Constitution, restoration of the independent judiciary, media freedom and Haqiqi Azadi, as envisioned by Imran Khan,” he added. The PTI has been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. Afridi claimed that Imran would be out of jail within half an hour if justice was served. But, he rued, court directives were not being abided by, referring to court orders for Imran’s medical treatment and meetings with his family. “So when you are not heard even after adopting all legal and constitutional means, the Constitution allows you to protest peacefully,” he added. Afridi further condemned the reported arrests and detentions of PTI leaders and workers, including ministers. He alleged that Punjab authorities had been directed to take action in KP and denounced the authorities for placing containers and hammering nails on roads along the KP-Punjab boundary to block the march’s route. Coming back to the postponing of the march, he remarked the PTI workers “know that it is a Test match”. He added that the PTI’s allies had also been informed of the party’s decision. Earlier in the day, amid speculation that the march would be postponed, Afridi sounded resolute that the march would take place. However, he did not specify at the time whether the protest would be delayed. The PTI would hold the Islamabad march whether they hammer nails into the roads, place containers, or fire bullets, he said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar. “The PTI will not step back from its demand for Imran Khan’s release and medical treatment despite threats of arrests and governor’s rule,” he added. Earlier, a senior PTI leader, who requested anonymity, had also told Dawn that the march would now leave from Peshawar on Oct 4. “There was a proposal to exhaust the federal government and law enforcement agencies, as they have already closed down the federal capital and a number of routes,” he said. The leader claimed that the PTI had already achieved what it wanted to do via the march. “They have closed down roads and are spending hundreds of millions on law enforcement,” he noted. Asked if the PTI intended to march alongside the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), which had postponed its own protest march against the petroleum levy on the request of the premier, the leader said that the decision had nothing to do with them. “We are capable of arranging the march on our own,” he said. The development comes a day after a PTI leader had hinted at the possibility of postponing its protest march if the federal government agreed to hold elections within six to eight months, release Imran and other political prisoners, and investigate the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns on the opposition party. Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha told Dawn that the protest could be postponed if these three assurances were given by the government. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, however, had denied any such proposal was being discussed at any party forum, saying only Imran could take a decision even if such a proposal was on the table. Meanwhile, preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation have been in full swing in light of the potential long march and other protests in Islamabad. Punjab has already imposed a ban on gatherings across the province for 13 days and prohibited inciting people to “unlawful assembly”. A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months. The Punjab government has also sent a letter to the interior ministry requesting mobile and internet services at specific locations in Rawalpindi and Attock to be downgraded or jammed on Sept 27. Meanwhile, the federal government on Thursday approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5. “The deployed troops may respond appropriately in self-defence to any threats or violent activities encountered in the course of their duties as per rules/regulations in vogue,” the notification stated. HRCP urges govt to de-escalate political tensions All three of Imran’s sisters — Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan and Aleema Khan — have been detained and there have also been reports of the arrests of PTI members and workers. The Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said in a statement on Friday that it “deplores the mounting arrests and preventive detention of PTI workers, lawmakers and leaders ahead of the party’s planned protest march”. Reports indicated that scores of workers, including women, had been arbitrarily detained, with some families claiming that they had no information as to the whereabouts of their relatives, the HRCP said. It added that it was “incumbent on the state to uphold the right to peaceful assembly for all citizens”. “Pre-emptive mass detention and restrictions on freedom of movement cannot be justified as proportionate or necessary. Moreover, repeated blanket restrictions, including the imposition of Section 144, are an affront to democratic principles. “We urge the government to de-escalate political tensions by resuming a purposeful dialogue with the opposition and to immediately release those who have been arbitrarily detained,” the HRCP said. Tarar takes aim at KP govt for ‘facilitating terrorism’ As political tensions persist between the PTI and the federal government, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar continued his criticism of the party and the KP government on Friday. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he accused the KP government of avoiding to take steps to maintain law and order in the province. He alleged that they also gave “full facilitation” to terrorists and called their policy on law and order “evasive”. “In one way or another, terrorists have attacked all political parties in KP,” the minister said. “But the PTI is held in high regard by terrorists. And not only do they avoid condemning terrorists, but they also fully avoid taking any sort of action against them. Facilitating terrorists is part of their policy.” He called KP’s PTI government the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) “B-team”, and Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan’s (TTA) “C-team”, claiming that it was facilitating the TTP while also “representing” the TTA. He also took aim at KP CM Afridi specifically, saying he “looks less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander, in both his words and actions”. “When drones are fired at Kohat from Afghanistan, and the Pakistan Army and Air Force very skilfully take them down, you will not see any sort of condemnation or statement from KP government,” Tarar claimed. “When there is firing from Afghanistan in Kurram … you will never see them go to Kurram and say ‘We have come here, we stand with our forces, and we will not tolerate such firing under any circumstances’.” He termed this a sign of cowardice from CM Afridi, his cabinet and his entire KP government, adding that this was also the reason they were “running away” from protests. “They are not even prepared. I’ve just come from KP. They don’t have any sort of preparations,” the minister said. “Come and protest, if you have the courage,” he said. He stressed that the provincial government was in charge of controlling law and order, highlighting that 2,456 terror attacks had taken place in KP in 2026 — around 10 a day on average. He added that 472 police, army, rangers, and FC personnel were martyred and over 1,500 people injured this year. The information minister asserted that the reason the KP government did not want to fix the law and order situation was to maintain a “political terror-crime nexus” and illegal trade and mining activities in the province, through which they “funded terrorists”. “A provincial government which doesn’t want to stop terrorism and fix law and order, and countless citizens lose their lives — this cannot be justified in any part of the world,” he said.

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Friday that the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad, which was originally scheduled for Sept 27, would now commence from Peshawar on Oct 4. The party has been preparing for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. Earlier, a senior PTI leader, who requested anonymity, also told Dawn that the march would now leave from Peshawar on Oct 4. He added that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would formally announce the postponement soon. “There was a proposal to exhaust the federal government and law enforcement agencies, as they have already closed down the federal capital and a number of routes,” he said. The leader claimed that the PTI had already achieved what it wanted to do via the march. “They have closed down roads and are spending hundreds of millions on law enforcement,” he noted. Asked if the PTI intended to march alongside the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), which had postponed its own protest march against the petroleum levy on the request of the premier, the leader said that the decision had nothing to do with them. “We are capable of arranging the march on our own,” he said. The development comes a day after a PTI leader had hinted at the possibility of postponing its protest march if the federal government agreed to hold elections within six to eight months, release Imran and other political prisoners, and investigate the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns on the opposition party. Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha told Dawn that the protest could be postponed if these three assurances were given by the government. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, however, had denied any such proposal was being discussed at any party forum, saying only Imran could take a decision even if such a proposal was on the table. Preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and deal with any emergency situation have been in full swing in light of the potential long march and other protests in Islamabad. Punjab has already imposed a ban on gatherings across the province for 13 days and prohibited inciting people to “unlawful assembly”. A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months. The Punjab government has also sent a letter to the interior ministry requesting mobile and internet services at specific locations in Rawalpindi and Attock to be downgraded or jam­med on Sept 27. Meanwhile, the federal government on Thursday approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5. “The deployed troops may respond appropriately in self-defence to any threats or violent activities encountered in the course of their duties as per rules/regulations in vogue,” the notification stated. HRCP urges govt to de-escalate political tensions All three of Imran’s sisters — Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan and Aleema Khan — have been detained and there have also been reports of the arrests of PTI members and workers. The Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said in a statement on Friday that it “deplores the mounting arrests and preventive detention of PTI workers, lawmakers and leaders ahead of the party’s planned protest march”. Reports indicated that scores of workers, including women, had been arbitrarily detained, with some families claiming that they had no information as to the whereabouts of their relatives, the HRCP said. It added that it was “incumbent on the state to uphold the right to peaceful assembly for all citizens”. “Pre-emptive mass detention and restrictions on freedom of movement cannot be justified as proportionate or necessary. Moreover, repeated blanket restrictions, including the imposition of Section 144, are an affront to democratic principles. “We urge the government to de-escalate political tensions by resuming a purposeful dialogue with the opposition and to immediately release those who have been arbitrarily detained,” the HRCP said. Tarar takes aim at KP govt for ‘facilitating terrorism’ Addressing a press conference on Friday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slammed the KP government, accusing it of avoiding taking steps to maintain law and order in the province. He alleged that they also gave “full facilitation” to terrorists and called their policy on law and order “evasive”. “In one way or another, terrorists have attacked all political parties in KP,” the minister said. “But the PTI is held in high regard by terrorists. And not only do they avoid condemning terrorists, but they also fully avoid taking any sort of action against them. Facilitating terrorists is part of their policy.” He called KP’s PTI government the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) “B-team”, and Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan’s (TTA) “C-team”, claiming that it was facilitating the TTP while also “representing” the TTA. He also took aim at KP CM Afridi specifically, saying he “looks less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander, in both his words and actions”. “When drones are fired at Kohat from Afghanistan, and the Pakistan Army and Air Force very skilfully take them down, you will not see any sort of condemnation or statement from KP government,” Tarar claimed. “When there is firing from Afghanistan in Kurram … you will never see them go to Kurram and say ‘We have come here, we stand with our forces, and we will not tolerate such firing under any circumstances’.” He termed this a sign of cowardice from CM Afridi, his cabinet and his entire KP government, adding that this was also the reason they were “running away” from protests. “They are not even prepared. I’ve just come from KP. They don’t have any sort of preparations,” the minister said. “Come and protest, if you have the courage,” he said. He stressed that the provincial government was in charge of controlling law and order, highlighting that 2,456 terror attacks had taken place in KP in 2026 — around 10 a day on average. He added that 472 police, army, rangers, and FC personnel were martyred and over 1,500 people injured this year. The information minister asserted that the reason the KP government did not want to fix the law and order situation was to maintain a “political terror-crime nexus” and illegal trade and mining activities in the province, through which they “funded terrorists”. “A provincial government which doesn’t want to stop terrorism and fix law and order, and countless citizens lose their lives — this cannot be justified in any part of the world,” he said.