Fresh protests against the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province have continued for the third consecutive day, with clashes between demonstrators and police reported in the Khyber district. At least 15 protesters were injured, while several people were arrested during police crackdowns in the Bara and Tirah areas.
The situation remained tense as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers took to the streets to oppose the federal decision, accusing the authorities of targeting the provincial leadership and suppressing political dissent. Reports of tear gas use and aerial firing emerged from the protest sites as police attempted to disperse demonstrators.
The protests in Bara saw PTI supporters stage rallies condemning the emergency measures and the reported imposition of governor’s rule in the province. Demonstrators also voiced their opposition to the arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, making the provincial leadership’s detention a key flashpoint in the agitation.
The latest confrontation marks a further escalation in tensions between PTI supporters and the authorities. Multiple arrests were reported as police moved against protesters in Khyber district, while reports of firing added to concerns over the handling of the demonstrations. The number of people detained and the circumstances surrounding the reported aerial firing were not independently established at the time of writing.
Emergency Measures Trigger Political Confrontation
The unrest comes amid a broader political confrontation over the proposed emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province where PTI has maintained a significant political presence. The federal decision has triggered resistance among party workers, who have mobilised against what they view as an attempt to undermine the provincial government and its leadership.
Governor’s rule, where constitutionally imposed, transfers the administration of a province to the governor under the applicable constitutional framework. Its use can become politically contentious, particularly when opposition parties view the move as an attempt to weaken an elected provincial administration.
