Khan's PTI vows to confront any federal push for governor rule in KP

Pakistan’s opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Sunday adopted an 11-point resolution rejecting any prospect of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), insisting the province had given the party a “clear mandate” in February’s vote and dismissing allegations that former prime minister Imran Khan poses a security threat.

The resolution was presented at a rally in Peshawar attended by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, senior PTI leaders and allied groups. It demanded the release of Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other detainees and called for unrestricted access for families, lawyers and party colleagues.

PTI leaders argued that any administration installed through governor’s rule would lack constitutional legitimacy. They also criticized the tone used by the military’s spokesperson, the DG ISPR, in Friday's briefing, describing it as “inconsistent with civilian supremacy”.

Speakers reiterated that KP had borne the brunt of militancy for two decades and urged the federal government to implement commitments made under last month’s Aman Jirga, including delayed constitutional and financial rights, Non-Hydropower (NHP) dues and obligations linked to the former tribal districts’ merger. They also alleged wide-ranging electoral irregularities and called for an independent audit.

KP CM Afridi rejected accusations of weak governance, arguing that repeated electoral support for the PTI reflected public confidence. Responding to claims that KP was not cooperating on security, he said gaps stemmed from federal policy, pointing to continued drone activity in the region. PTI, he added, would support decisions aligned with national interest but would respond “firmly” if KP’s rights were undermined.

PTI lawmaker Shahid Khattak warned that any attempt to impose governor’s rule would trigger mass protests, saying party workers would march on the Governor House if such a step was taken.

Addressing the rally, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai said Khan’s imprisonment raised broader questions about political accountability, describing the jailed PTI founder as a “prisoner of conscience”. He warned that suspending constitutional norms, in the name of security or otherwise, posed a greater threat to the state than political dissent.

Political parties push back

Parties aligned with the government criticized PTI’s statements, accusing the opposition of attempting to discredit state institutions and inflame political tensions.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said PTI’s rhetoric amounted to a challenge to national security, alleging that the party had long relied on foreign funding and narratives designed to weaken state structures.

MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, at a presser, said PTI had “abandoned parliamentary politics” in favor of street agitation, arguing that its approach was contributing to instability at a time of economic strain.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in a post on X, described PTI’s messaging as “irresponsible” and said political disagreements should not cross into narratives that undermine the armed forces or erode national cohesion.