Emergency Declared in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI Leaders Detained

Following the federal proclamation of an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI’s provincial leadership faced a wave of arrests and a rapid deployment of security forces. The move, announced on Sunday, effectively placed the province under the direct control of a centrally appointed governor, sidelining the elected PTI administration that had been led by Imran Khan’s party.

The declaration triggered mass protests across Peshawar, with PTI supporters converging at the Bara Bazaar to voice their dissent. Police responded with crowd‑control measures, including tear‑gas canisters, and according to officials, live fire was used to disperse the gathering. The clash resulted in one civilian fatality and numerous injuries among both protesters and police personnel.

Reports from local media indicate that protestors torched the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office in the area and temporarily held fifteen police officers captive. PTI representative Iqbal Afridi claimed a death toll of one and eleven injured party workers, though independent verification is pending.

Hospital officials from three major Peshawar hospitals, including Hayatabad Medical Complex, confirmed that more than a dozen patients have been admitted for treatment, among them four police officers. Police have also arrested approximately fifty individuals on accusations of fomenting unrest.

The emergency remains in effect as the federal government seeks to restore order, while PTI leaders continue to demand the restoration of the provincial government and an end to the governor’s rule.