What happened

According to a report by Dawn, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued notices to the federal and provincial governments regarding several petitions challenging the enforcement of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). A two-member bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Muhammad Faheem Wali adjourned the proceedings until November 10 after listening to preliminary arguments. The bench stated that a written order would be issued later and that formal notices would also be delivered to the attorney general for Pakistan and the KP advocate general.

Key facts

The legal challenges follow political friction between the PML-N-led federal administration and the PTI-led KP government, which led to federal enforcement measures on October 11. Key aspects of the court proceedings include:

  • Multiple petitions were presented, including filings by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, PTI leader Shandana Gulzar, the KP Bar Council, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-Ayin-i-Pakistan leaders, and advocate Qaiser Shah.
  • Counsel representing Gohar argued that mandatory approval from the provincial assembly under Article 232(1) was never granted, rendering the actions illegal despite subsequent endorsement from the National Assembly and Senate.
  • The petitioners requested the court to order the release or recovery of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the assembly speaker, who were reported as missing, and urged the restoration of the cabinet and provincial assembly.
  • Gohar stated to the court that 12 MNAs and 14 MPAs affiliated with PTI had been picked up, while deputy commissioners and district police officers were replaced on October 11.
  • Advocate Muazzam Butt argued that provincial security assessment falls under the apex committee formed via the National Action Plan, meaning terrorism responsibility cannot be placed entirely on the provincial administration.
  • Advocate Qaiser Shah supported the declaration of emergency but voiced opposition to governor's rule.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, the petitions address whether the federal government can legally halt provincial government operations without prior approval from the local assembly. The case touches on constitutional balances between federal authority and provincial powers. The specific text of the interim order is not specified in the source; please check the official notice.

📰 Read the Original Report

Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 20, 2026 · Photo by Melinda Gimpel on Unsplash