SEOUL, KOREA | 15 October 2026
The Asia Democracy Network (ADN) expresses grave concern over the proclamation of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 11 October 2026, which has suspended the province’s elected government and placed it under the Governor and an appointed advisory council. The federal government has indicated that these arrangements may remain in place for up to six months. The proclamation was accompanied by the reported arrest of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the provincial president of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, Mr Babar Saleem Sawati, along with several provincial ministers and parliamentarians, has reportedly been placed under house arrest. An order has also been issued deploying the armed forces across the province for the duration of the emergency. These measures follow a protest march towards Islamabad led by the provincial government one week earlier. Their timing raises serious concerns about the use of extraordinary powers against political opposition and the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly.
ADN recognises the serious security challenges facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the suffering that militant violence has inflicted on communities across the province. However, security concerns cannot in themselves justify measures that undermine constitutional governance, democratic accountability and fundamental rights. Any emergency measures must have a clear legal basis, be necessary and proportionate to the threats faced, and remain subject to effective parliamentary and judicial oversight.
The suspension of an elected government and the detention of elected representatives raise serious concerns about constitutional safeguards and the ability of public officials to perform their democratic functions and defend themselves. These concerns are compounded by the reported province-wide internet shutdown since 11 October, which restricts people’s ability to communicate, access information and report developments to the wider public. Such restrictions raise serious concerns regarding the freedoms protected under Articles 19 and 19A of Pakistan’s Constitution, alongside the right to peaceful assembly under Article 16. Measures that weaken these safeguards risk further undermining public trust and aggravating political instability.
ADN calls on the Government of Pakistan to:
- Uphold due process and the right to liberty by releasing Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and others detained in connection with the protests, or promptly charging them with a recognisable offence before a competent and independent court.
- Ensure parliamentary scrutiny by placing the emergency proclamation before Parliament without delay and allowing an open debate on its legal basis, necessity and duration.
- Restore internet access immediately across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ensure that people can freely access information and communicate without undue restrictions.
- Protect access to justice by ensuring that all affected persons retain access to independent courts and effective legal remedies.
- Restore elected provincial governance at the earliest opportunity and ensure that any interim measures remain consistent with constitutional requirements and subject to meaningful oversight.
