Governor’s rule in KP is unlikely to be lifted within the next 90 or even 180 days, according to Senator Faisal Vawda, who has suggested that the extraordinary administrative arrangement could remain in place for an extended period. Speaking on the Geo News programme “Jirga”, the senator said that no political party currently possesses political capital and that every stakeholder would now have to put in effort to steady the system. He added that he appreciated the prime minister’s current performance.
Referring to the wider political situation, Vawda described the present phase as only the beginning, saying that further developments would follow. He nonetheless said he did not foresee the imposition of any further governor’s rule, martial law or a presidential system, and that the country had embarked on a path towards “positive democracy”. He also said that if JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had reservations, the government should address them.
Why Governor’s Rule in KP Was Imposed
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa entered a new administrative setup earlier this month after President Asif Ali Zardari approved and signed a summary imposing an emergency and governor’s rule, effectively sidelining the PTI-led provincial government. The president acted on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, following recommendations by the federal cabinet and reports on the province’s law and order situation.
The presidential proclamation cited a surge in terrorist attacks and extremist activities, including attacks on infrastructure, government installations and law enforcement agencies. Hence, the state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been framed by the federal government as a response to a deteriorating security environment, a position Vawda has publicly endorsed, describing the step as being in the interest of the province’s people.
How the New Arrangement Works
Under the arrangement, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi exercises the functions of the provincial government on behalf of the federation, assisted by an 11-member advisory council, while Parliament exercises the legislative powers of the provincial assembly. The proclamation states that the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general cease to hold office. The provincial assembly, however, has not been dissolved.
Vawda has also spoken about expectations of the new setup at a separate press conference in Islamabad. He said that results would begin to become visible within 60 days, that the public would receive relief within 180 days, and that Governor Kundi would be replaced if he failed to perform. Read together with his remarks on “Jirga”, these statements suggest that he views the 180-day period as a benchmark for delivery rather than a deadline for the arrangement itself. In this regard, his outlook on governor’s rule in KP is notably longer than the timelines first attached to it.
Governor’s Rule in KP: Duration Remains a Matter of Political Judgment
A joint sitting of Parliament, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, approved the governor’s rule and emergency for two months by majority vote on October 15, a day after the National Assembly and the Senate had separately endorsed the measures. Officials have since offered differing indications of how long the arrangement may last.
PPP Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari said the duration would depend on the province’s security situation, and that the emergency could be ended early through a simple motion in a joint session of Parliament. Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said the emergency could remain in place for at least a year and might continue until 2029. Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the prime minister’s coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa affairs, said governor’s rule would remain in force for as long as necessary and could continue until the next elections if required. These varying assessments show that the length of governor’s rule in KP remains largely a question of political judgment.
Opposition and Legal Challenge
The opposition has rejected the move. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan termed the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency unconstitutional and illegal. He also argued that if security concerns justified such a step in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, similar action should be considered for Balochistan and the Katcha areas, warning that the measure would undermine provincial autonomy.
The party has moved the Peshawar High Court against the decision, and the court has fixed its petition for hearing on October 20.
The Road Ahead
Whether governor’s rule in KP extends well beyond the initial two months, as Vawda anticipates, will depend on the security situation, the choices of the federal government and the outcome of the legal challenge. The coming days, beginning with the Peshawar High Court hearing, will indicate how firmly the new arrangement stands.
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