PTI to challenge governor’s rule, emergency in court

PTI to challenge governor’s rule, emergency in court

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has vowed to challenge the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in court, arguing that both measures violate the Constitution.

Speaking to the media in Peshawar, Barrister Gohar said the party had filed petitions challenging the decisions and had also highlighted the treatment of PTI workers and members of the National Assembly. He said the party would present its arguments before the court and seek to establish that the government’s actions were unconstitutional.

He reiterated that PTI had always condemned terrorism and rejected attempts to use security concerns as a justification for imposing an emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He also rejected allegations levelled against the provincial government by the federal government, accusing the authorities of attempting to undermine the party’s electoral mandate.

Barrister Gohar said PTI would raise its voice at every available forum against the arrest of the KP chief minister and demanded the release of the party’s leadership. He also expressed doubts about the prospects for negotiations, saying that if the parties genuinely intended to engage in dialogue, talks would have taken place by now.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who also spoke to the media, described the move as an attack on democracy. He alleged that authorities were targeting party lawmakers and attempting to weaken PTI’s political position through administrative measures.

Raja questioned the justification for imposing an emergency on the grounds of insecurity in the province. He argued that the provincial government, chief minister, assembly, courts and police were all functioning, and challenged the need for governor’s rule under such circumstances.

He further maintained that the provincial assembly had not passed the resolution he considered necessary for the measure, raising questions about the constitutional and legal basis of the decision.

Referring to the emergency imposed in 2007, Raja said Pakistan had witnessed unconstitutional measures in the past as well. He also alleged that authorities were removing plaques bearing the names of PTI development projects, accusing them of targeting the party’s public achievements.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said his political differences with the prime minister should not be interpreted as personal hostility. However, he criticised the treatment of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that the mandate of nearly 40 million people had been disregarded.

Achakzai alleged that the authorities had been unwilling to accept PTI’s electoral mandate from the outset. He said the current situation had raised serious concerns about democratic representation and the respect for voters’ choices.

The PTI leaders’ statements come amid a growing political dispute over the proposed or imposed emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The party has vowed to pursue legal remedies, while its leadership continues to demand the release of detained members and respect for its electoral mandate.