Immediate Emergency or Governor’s Rule in KP Unlikely for Now: Report
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has reportedly decided against immediately imposing emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, instead giving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) another opportunity to reconsider its planned October 4 long march and adopt a less confrontational political approach.
According to a report by journalist Ansar Abbasi, citing informed sources, a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the deteriorating security and political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the PTI’s proposed march towards Islamabad.
The meeting considered constitutional options including emergency and governor’s rule. However, the government reportedly decided not to take immediate action and to wait for the PTI’s response before making any further move.
Sources said that if the PTI cancels its October 4 march and reduces tensions, several issues concerning the party and its leadership could potentially be addressed through political and administrative channels.
حکومت کا خیبرپختونخوامیں فوری ایمرجنسی یا گورنر راج سے گریزhttps://t.co/X3yD7KBbJz
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) October 1, 2026
According to the report, these measures could include improved access for PTI leaders to party founder Imran Khan, consideration of hospitalisation for medical treatment where required, and arrangements for meetings with his lawyers, family members and close relatives.
Similar facilitation could also be considered for Bushra Bibi, including regular meetings with her legal team and family, the sources said.
However, the report noted that any decision regarding Imran Khan’s release would remain a matter for the courts and could not be guaranteed by the government.
The government has reportedly taken the position that the situation could still be addressed politically if the PTI chooses to de-escalate. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said the October 4 protest remains planned and has described it as a peaceful political activity.
The PTI had originally scheduled the long march for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4.
