Imran Khan’s party decries ‘coup’ after Pakistan suspends provincial government
Suspension of provincial government escalates standoff with Khan’s PTI party a week after his supporters began marching to demand his release
TL;DR
- Pakistan declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and suspended its government.
- PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari called the government's move a 'coup disguised as emergency,' intended to stop protests and risk further bloodshed.
- The federal government accuses PTI of failing to curb militants, a charge the party denies, stating lack of funding and equipment.
- The emergency allows the government to take over provincial authorities for an initial period of six months, with potential extensions.
- Troops will be deployed in the province, and restrictions have been placed on the former provincial in-charge, Sohail Afridi.
- Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the emergency as an 'ambush on democracy.'
- PTI won the most seats in the 2024 election but formed a government only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with supporters alleging the military rigged the vote against Khan.
- Imran Khan faces multiple cases, but most convictions have been suspended or overturned.
- The government also accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who attack Pakistan, and alleges PTI sympathizes with the Taliban.