Pakistan’s federal government imposed emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, October 12, suspending the provincial government led by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and detaining hundreds of party members. The move came as PTI supporters prepared to march toward Islamabad to demand political change and challenge the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

President Asif Ali Zardari approved the emergency measures after negotiations between provincial officials and representatives of the federal government failed. Islamabad said the intervention was necessary because provincial leaders had not done enough to address the growing threat posed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, an Islamist militant group operating in the region.

PTI officials rejected that explanation, accusing the federal government of using security concerns as a pretext to suppress the opposition and prevent Khan’s supporters from reaching the capital. The party described the order as an “ambush on democracy” and a “coup disguised as an emergency.”

Police arrested several senior PTI figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a close ally of Khan. Authorities said some detainees would be held temporarily, while others could face criminal charges. Two Pakistani police officials cited anonymously by Indian newspaper The Hindu put the number of detained PTI members at 278.

The crackdown also disrupted daily life in the province. Schools were closed Monday, and major internet connectivity disruptions were reported as the authorities moved against the party. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said a provincial governor would be appointed for at least six months or until the emergency was lifted.

The confrontation follows days of preparations by PTI supporters for a march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad. Sharif had urged the party to postpone the demonstration, citing the threat of militant attacks. Authorities in the capital had already begun blocking roads and preparing for the possibility of large-scale protests.

Khan, 74, was removed from the premiership in 2022 through a parliamentary vote of no confidence and has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption charges. He and his supporters maintain that the cases are politically motivated and intended to prevent his return to power. His party has continued to mobilize supporters despite the arrests and legal pressure.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi defended the federal intervention, saying residents wanted “peace, stability, development and prosperity rather than unrest and insecurity.” He urged the public to obey the law and avoid violence or rioting.

The emergency measures now place the province’s PTI-led administration under federal control as the standoff over Khan’s political future escalates. Whether the intervention prevents the planned march or intensifies opposition protests remains uncertain.