Peshawar: The declaration of a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accompanied by the imposition of governor’s rule and the deployment of armed forces, has sparked significant concerns regarding human rights in the region. The decision, made by President Asif Ali Zardari, follows recommendations from the federal cabinet in response to an “unprecedented level of violent intensity of terrorist attacks” and a “breakdown of constitutional machinery.”

According to Amnesty International, the recent measures have led to reports of arbitrary detentions, including that of the provincial chief minister, alongside internet disruptions across the province. Amnesty International emphasized that while derogation from human rights obligations is permissible under strictly limited conditions during a public emergency, such measures should not be used as a pretext to undermine human rights or concentrate power. The organization further highlighted the potential risks associated with deploying the military for ordinary policing tasks, given the history of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in counterterrorism operations.

The emergency declaration allows the federal legislature to enact laws for the province and suspend fundamental rights, including freedoms of assembly, association, and expression. The powers of the provincial assembly have been transferred to the federal parliament, leading to the cessation of office for the chief minister and other provincial officials. The Pakistan military has been deployed in the region under Article 245 of the constitution to aid civil powers.

Amnesty International has called for independent oversight of all actions under the emergency framework to ensure that measures are necessary and proportionate to the situation. The province has been under the leadership of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party since 2013, with the latest government formed after the 2024 general election.