PTI dares govt to impose governor’s rule in KP

• Panjutha warns move would further deteriorate situation in province; Shahid Khattak proposes assembly resignations, street protests
• KP speaker asks police chief to provide details of arrested, detained MPAs

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Amid rising demand in the Centre for the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, senior PTI leader Naeem Haider Panjutha has challenged the federal government to go ahead with the move, warning that it would further deteriorate the situation in the province.

“You have already stolen the people’s mandate, stripped them of their two-thirds majority and reserved seats, filed thousands of politically motivated cases, imprisoned tens of thousands, including Imran Khan, raided homes, violated the sanctity of chadar and chardiwari, and imprisoned women, including Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan’s sisters,” Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha said while talking to Dawn.

He said the government should try imposing governor’s rule. “You have no idea what the people of KP are capable of. They will rise up and sweep your governor’s rule away,” he added.

Replying to a question, Mr Panjutha said PTI would never retreat from its struggle for Haqeeqi Azadi (true freedom). “Our movement will continue until constitutional supremacy and the rule of law are restored, all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, are released, and the people’s mandate is respected,” he said.

“Our struggle will not end until Pakistan stands upon the principles of justice, equality and accountability embodied in the vision of Riyasat-i-Madina,” he added.

He claimed that no threats, emergency, governor’s rule or political repression could break PTI’s resolve, and that its struggle for freedom could not be silenced.

“Haqeeqi Azadi is our destination, constitutional supremacy is our demand, and our struggle will continue until justice prevails,” Mr Panjutha said.

PTI’s parliamentary leader, Shahid Khattak, has also questioned the purpose of remaining in a parliament that, he said, could not even protect the dignity and security of its own MNAs.

“What is the point of sitting in a parliament that cannot even protect the dignity and security of its own MNAs?” he said.

“My proposal is that we resign from the assemblies and take our struggle to the streets. We are not afraid of arrest. We are not afraid of bullets, guns or any form of pressure. We are soldiers of Imran Khan. A public rally will take place under all circumstances, and we will not turn back until Imran Khan is released, political prisoners are freed, this failed system is replaced, and the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law are restored,” he stated.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi while talking to the media in Peshawar on September 25 disclosed that consultations were held over the possibility of governor’s rule in the province ahead of PTI’s protest march, which was scheduled for September 27 but was later postponed to October 4.

Details of arrested MPAs

Meanwhile, KP Speaker Babar Saleem Swati on Sunday sought details from the provincial police chief about lawmakers who had been arrested or detained.

The details were sought in a letter addressed to KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed, a copy of which is available with Dawn.

The speaker sought the information under Articles 66 and 67, read with Article 127, of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules, 2025, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly (Powers, Immunities and Privileges) Act, 2026.

Mr Swati informed the police chief that, being the custodian of the House, he had directed the assembly secretariat to obtain information about any member of the KP Assembly, minister, adviser, special assistant to the chief minister or parliamentary secretary who had been arrested or detained.

He also sought details of the residences of lawmakers that had been raided, attacked, searched or subjected to similar action by any law enforcement agency.

Mr Swati sought a complete report and copies of FIRs concerning such incidents, including those listed in the enclosed list, that had occurred during the last two weeks. According to the letter, the report should be submitted to the assembly secretariat along with records of complaints lodged regarding such incidents at the relevant police stations.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026