Federal government authorises army deployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under emergency rule

Following the president’s assent to the cabinet’s recommendation, the federal government issued SRO (1)/2026, permitting Pakistan Army units to assist civil power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The order cites Articles 232, 234 and 245 of the Constitution and is intended to safeguard citizens, property and state facilities while emergency and governor’s rule are in force. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, together with the Military Operations Directorate at GHQ Rawalpindi, will determine the number of troops and equipment needed.

Copies of the notification were sent to senior officials including the president’s secretary, the prime minister’s adviser, the KP home secretary and the provincial IGP. The emergency follows a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Zardari amid rising tensions between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration over counter-terrorism policy.