Government appoints Yahya Akhunzada to KP administration

The federal government has appointed Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada, a Grade-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), to serve in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, according to an official notification issued on Sunday.

Akhunzada was previously working as an additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office. His services have now been placed at the disposal of the KP government under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. The appointment will remain in effect until further orders.

Akhunzada has extensive administrative experience in the province. He previously served as an additional political agent in South Waziristan and North Waziristan. He has also held positions as secretary of health, information and education in KP and commissioner of Dera Ismail Khan. He belongs to Charsadda district.

The appointment comes as the federal government moves to address growing security concerns and political tensions in KP. On Sunday, the federal cabinet approved a proposal to impose emergency rule in the province, citing the deteriorating law and order situation and the rising threat of terrorism.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reviewed the security situation and recommended that the prime minister advise President Asif Ali Zardari to invoke Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

President Zardari subsequently approved the emergency recommendation, according to an announcement from the Presidency. The development marks a significant step in the federal government’s proposed response to the province’s security challenges.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had reportedly submitted a written explanation to the prime minister outlining the grounds for emergency measures. The federal government has also been considering administrative changes, including the replacement of senior officials and the transfer of certain provincial powers to the centre.

Separate proposals have reportedly focused on 12 districts, including eight merged tribal districts: Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, Bajaur, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan. Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are also included in the reported plan.

The latest developments come amid heightened political tensions following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march, which began on October 4. The federal government has maintained that security concerns require urgent attention, while the proposed measures are likely to intensify debate over provincial autonomy and constitutional authority.