State of emergency declared in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan

According to the news of Dawn newspaper, based on the statement made by the Presidential office, the security situation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on the border with Afghanistan was discussed at the emergency cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. At the meeting, where cabinet members assessed that the state government was "deliberately staying away from counter-terrorism efforts", the use of constitutional powers was recommended due to the seriousness of the situation.

Thereupon, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the proposal and decided to declare a state of emergency in the state. With the decision, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province came under the rule of the governor representing the federal government.

Armed attacks in Pakistan are concentrated especially in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan. Armed groups, who claim to defend the rights of Pashtun and Baloch ethnic groups in both provinces, are attacking Pakistani security forces and civilians.

Thousands of supporters, demanding the release of Khan, who has been detained since 2023, gathered in the Lakki Marwat region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and moved towards the capital. While the entrance to Islamabad, where demonstrations were expected to be held, was closed with barricades, security measures were tightened throughout the city.

ARREST OF IMRAN KHAN

Former Prime Minister Khan was removed from office after failing to receive a vote of confidence in the National Assembly in April 2022. After Khan was arrested in the capital Islamabad on May 9, 2023, protests began across the country, and Khan supporters took to the streets in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and many other cities. 9 people lost their lives and more than 290 people were injured in the demonstrations. Han was released by court decision on May 12, 2023.