Imran Khan is in prison, and his party has now lost the only provincial government it controlled in Pakistan. As his supporters fight Islamabad’s takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai has alleged that Khan is being pressed to accept an exile-style deal. The claim comes before a court hearing on whether the takeover itself was lawful.
Why Imran Khan’s party has lost its last provincial government
PTI has governed the province since 2013. Even after Khan was removed as Pakistan’s Prime Minister in 2022 and subsequently jailed, his party continued running the provincial government. It was the only province under PTI’s control following the 2024 general election. The decision placed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in charge, with an 11-member advisory council appointed to assist him. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate approved the emergency on October 14, followed by Parliament’s approval of governor’s rule on October 15, despite protests from the opposition. Her government was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari in 1996, and her Pakistan Peoples Party lost the 1997 general election. She went into self-imposed exile in 1999.
Because terrorist attacks were increasing and the PTI-led administration was failing to cooperate properly with security forces, islamabad said it had acted. The arrangement was announced for an initial six-month period. Governor’s rule means that the elected Chief Minister and provincial cabinet are temporarily prevented from running the government. Their administrative powers are exercised by the governor on behalf of the federal government. It accused the provincial government of withdrawing from efforts to fight terrorism. The PTI rejected the allegations, accusing the Shehbaz Sharif-led government of using security concerns to oust its elected government. The statement came as the party planned a march to Islamabad to demand Imran Khan’s release and better treatment in prison. Sohail Afridi, a leader of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was detained along with several members of his administration after Pakistan imposed emergency rule and suspended the PTI-led provincial government. Opposition leaders later demanded that authorities disclose their whereabouts. Benazir Bhutto, who had served twice as Prime Minister, followed a different path.
