Peshawar: Following the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, clarification has emerged regarding reports of the arrest of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.
After the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province, eight key PTI leaders, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, are reportedly in police protective custody.
Police officials confirmed the development, stating that those in custody include Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati and PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar.
According to a senior police officer, key political leaders have been taken into protective custody in view of the current situation in the province. However, the names of the other five leaders have not been disclosed.
According to media reports, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar clarified the previous day that Sohail Afridi had not been arrested but was instead in protective custody.
He also stated that the status of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had been suspended and that a new administrative arrangement would be established to manage the province’s affairs.
It is worth recalling that President Asif Ali Zardari, following approval by the federal cabinet, authorized the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the previous day under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.
Following the move, PTI rejected the decision, describing it as political victimization, while the federal government cited the law-and-order situation in the province as the reason for its decision.
The military has also been deployed to assist in implementing governor’s rule.
Political debate continues.
