Pakistan province leaders of ex-PM Imran Khan's party detained, minister says

Politicians from the party of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan were detained after the federal government suspended the provincial government in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and imposed emergency rule, the government said on Monday.

President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in the province on Sunday, suspending the government led by Sohail Afridi, an aide to Khan.

The federal government said emergency rule was imposed because the provincial administration had failed to tackle Islamist militancy in the province, which borders Afghanistan. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rejected the claim, saying the move was intended to prevent his supporters from marching to Islamabad to demand his release.

The suspension of the provincial government and the imposition of emergency rule have sharply escalated tensions between Khan, 74, a former cricket star, and the country’s powerful military.

Emergency rule came after long march call

The emergency declaration came a week after Khan’s supporters staged rallies in the province and prepared to march to Islamabad to demand his release and access to medical treatment.

“Yes, I can confirm that the chief minister and some of his cabinet members have been taken into preventive custody,” federal minister Talal Chaudhry told Reuters.

Those facing legal cases would be charged and tried, while the others would be released, he said.

The detentions took place on Sunday at the provincial chief minister’s residence in Peshawar, the provincial capital, Chaudhry said.

Witnesses and officials said the chief minister’s residence and other key facilities nearby had been cordoned off, with a heavy police presence, paramilitary forces and shipping containers deployed in the area.

Shaukat Yousafzai, an aide to Khan, condemned the detentions and demanded the release of those held.

Khan’s three sisters and hundreds of his supporters were also detained ahead of the planned march.

The party’s last major protest, two years ago, ended in deadly clashes with security forces. Khan’s arrest in 2023 triggered nationwide riots, during which his supporters attacked military installations.

Talks broke down on militancy issue

Pakistan’s constitution allows the federal government to take over provincial administration during a state of emergency.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a provincial governor would take charge after President Zardari declared the emergency. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an increase in militant attacks in recent months.

The federal government and the military accuse Khan’s PTI of failing to curb militancy, a charge the party denies.

The government and the PTI held several rounds of talks after the party called for the march last month.

Chaudhry said the government had been prepared to accept all the PTI’s demands, including allowing the march to proceed.

“We asked for just one thing, that the party should publicly condemn the militancy and join our hands in the fight against militants,” he said.

The PTI did not agree to the demand, leading to the breakdown of the talks, he added.