Emergency Declared in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Internet Ban and Arrests Raise Human Rights Concerns
Amnesty International raises alarms over arrests and internet restrictions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following emergency declaration by the federal government.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : The federal government of Pakistan has declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting widespread concerns from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International expressed serious alarm over the arbitrary detention of key political figures, including the provincial chief minister, and the ban on internet services.
On Sunday, the government imposed governor’s rule in the province, leading to the suspension of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial government, which was previously led by the imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Babu Ram Pant, Deputy Director of Amnesty International for South Asia, condemned the emergency measures and the deployment of armed forces in the region. He stated, “The arbitrary detention of major leaders, including the chief minister, and the disruption of internet services across the province raise serious questions about the proportionality of these emergency measures.”
Pant noted that governments may temporarily suspend certain human rights obligations during extreme public emergencies that threaten national survival. However, he emphasized that emergency powers should not be misused to suppress human rights, stifle dissent, or consolidate power.
He warned that the military’s presence could lead to further militarization of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and increase the risk of unlawful use of force. Pant referenced the military’s troubling history of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during anti-terrorism campaigns.
The organization called on Pakistani authorities to refrain from using military personnel for maintaining law and order and to ensure accountability of armed forces while adhering to international human rights laws and standards.
Local media reported that following the suspension of the provincial government, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several cabinet members were taken into custody. Talal Chaudhry, the state minister for the interior, informed the media that legal charges would be filed against the detained leaders.
Amid rising political tensions and a deteriorating security situation, the Governor’s House was set ablaze after the emergency was declared. Videos circulating on social media showed the building engulfed in flames, while other footage captured police firing and deploying tear gas in various cities across the province.
Earlier on Sunday, opposition parties strongly opposed the federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, labeling it an attack on democracy and vowing to challenge it through legal and public protests.
According to the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the PTI warned that this decision sets a dangerous precedent, characterizing it as political persecution aimed at undermining the province’s elected leadership.
