Imran Khan’s party decries ‘coup’ after Pakistan suspends provincial government

Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in the north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, led by Imran Khan's PTI party, and suspended its government. The move was described as 'more of a coup disguised as emergency' by PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari.

The state of emergency and imposition of a new governor in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sharply escalates a standoff between Khan's PTI party and the government. This comes a week after PTI supporters gathered in the province intending to march on Islamabad to demand Khan's release.

Hundreds of activists and three of Khan's sisters were detained before the planned march, in what the PTI called one of the strongest crackdowns in years. The federal government and the military accuse PTI of failing to curb militants, a charge the party rejects.

The party claims Islamabad has not provided the funding and equipment it needs to tackle militancy in the province. Restrictions have been placed on the movements of Sohail Afridi, who had previously been in charge of the province, one of his close aides told Reuters.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the JUI-F political party and engaged by the government to mediate with PTI, also condemned the move. 'Imposition of emergency is an ambush on democracy,' he told a news conference in Islamabad.

The federal government and the military have accused PTI of failing to curb militants in the province. The party rejects this charge and says Islamabad has not provided the funding and equipment it needs to tackle militancy.