Pakistan authorizes army deployment in KP under Article 245

Pakistan's federal government authorized army deployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday under Article 245 of the Constitution. The troops will help the civil administration maintain law and order, protect citizens and safeguard public installations after the province was placed under emergency rule.

What does the army deployment in KP involve?

Under the order, army troops and resources will assist the civil administration in maintaining peace and public safety in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The deployment aims to protect lives and property and secure government installations amid security concerns in the province. It applies for the period covered by the emergency proclamation issued on October 11 under Articles 232 and 234.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor, in consultation with the Military Operations Directorate at the Pakistan Army's General Headquarters, will determine the number of troops and resources to be deployed, according to the notification. The order will be published in the next issue of the Gazette of Pakistan, Part II.

Why did the government impose emergency rule in KP?

The authorization came hours after President Asif Ali Zardari declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, removing Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and his administration. The federal government described the situation as a breakdown of constitutional machinery amid escalating terrorism.

The proclamation was issued on the advice of the federal cabinet and following a report from Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. It cited rising terrorist attacks, threats to public safety and the provincial government's alleged failure to counter violence effectively.

The move came as Afridi and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led a protest march toward Islamabad, intensifying the political standoff between the opposition party and the federal government.

What changes in the provincial government under the emergency?

Under the proclamation, executive authority over provincial departments was transferred to the governor, who will exercise those powers under federal government directives. Provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general were removed from office.

The provincial assembly remains intact, but its legislative powers have been suspended and transferred to Parliament. The deployment adds a security dimension to the federal government's intervention, as tensions continue over the PTI march and the removal of Afridi's administration.