Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi stated that non-functional Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati are currently under house arrest and in safe hands, according to a report by Dawn. The governor shared these details during an interview on the Geo News television program Jirga after the federal government instituted emergency governor's rule in the province on October 11.

What happened

Following the central government's action on October 11, Afridi and several of his cabinet members were taken into preventative custody, a move confirmed by a federal minister the following day. Due to a lack of immediate official details, Afridi's brother and Swati's cousin filed separate petitions with the Peshawar High Court seeking their recovery. Governor Kundi later clarified that both leaders are under house arrest, adding that they will be formally indicted if cases exist against them or freed if no charges are present.

Key facts

  • Governor Kundi accused Speaker Swati of taking illegal and unconstitutional actions while serving in his official post, according to Dawn.
  • Specific legal charges against the detained officials were not specified in the source; please check the official notice.
  • The governor estimated that around 40 to 50 percent of individuals reported arrested are actually under self-imposed arrest or hiding.
  • Kundi rejected calls for dialogue with the Afghan Taliban, distancing state policy from comments made by Malik Khan Marjan, a member of the Area Representative and Development Council.

Why it matters

According to Dawn, Kundi stated that imposing emergency rule was a final recourse. Although the initial period is six months, Kundi gave his personal view that it could last longer to help federal and provincial authorities align their plans against terrorism. He also criticized Kabul for allowing Afghan soil and Indian influence to be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, stating that no talks would take place on the matter.

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Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 25, 2026 · Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash