The Governor House in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was reportedly set on fire amid rising unrest following the imposition of emergency….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Governor House in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province was reportedly set on fire amid escalating political tensions following the federal government’s imposition of a state of emergency. The incident comes as protests intensify, security forces launch a crackdown on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and opposition parties challenge the federal government’s move.
Videos circulating on social media showed the Governor House engulfed in flames, while other footage appeared to show police firing and shelling in cities across the province. Details about the circumstances surrounding the fire, the extent of the damage and any casualties were not immediately available.
The incident has heightened concerns over the deteriorating law-and-order situation in KP, where the federal government’s emergency measures have triggered widespread opposition.
On Sunday, large numbers of people took to the streets to protest against the imposition of emergency, which suspends the provincial government led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI, according to media reports.
The PTI’s planned march to Islamabad was disrupted on Sunday amid a sweeping security crackdown across the province. The federal government’s imposition of emergency and governor’s rule has effectively weakened the party’s control over its provincial stronghold, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.
Police arrested 59 PTI workers in Swabi and six in Khyber district as part of the crackdown. Reports also indicated that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar had been taken into custody.
Security personnel were deployed at major intersections and highways across KP as authorities moved to tighten control over the provincial administration. Mobile phone and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) internet services were also suspended in Swabi.
In a separate development, former chief minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said he had been placed under house arrest at his residence in Dera Ismail Khan.
The developments have intensified political tensions between the federal government and opposition parties, with critics questioning the legality and democratic implications of imposing governor’s rule in the province.
Opposition parties on Sunday strongly opposed the decision, describing it as an assault on democracy and pledging to challenge it through legal proceedings and public campaigns.
In a statement, the PTI warned that the move had established a “dangerous precedent”, alleging that it amounted to political victimisation aimed at weakening the province’s elected leadership, Dawn reported.
The party called for the immediate release of Afridi and Akbar and demanded that the federal government disclose the legal justification, specific charges and procedures underlying their arrests.
The PTI has also criticised the suspension of the provincial government and the security measures imposed during the crackdown, maintaining that the actions undermine democratic representation in the province.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) vowed to challenge the imposition of governor’s rule in courts, assemblies and public forums. The alliance also asserted that the PTI’s planned protest march would proceed as announced.
The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains tense amid protests, arrests and heightened security deployments. Further details about the reported fire at the Governor House, including the extent of the damage and possible casualties, were not immediately available.
