ISLAMABAD – The political battle between the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the centre intensified, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif sees Governor’s Rule a constitutional option while calling it an undesirable step.
The latest statement sparked fresh uncertainty in the already tense confrontation between the federal government and the KP administration, with the controversy unfolding just days before PTI’s rescheduled march towards Islamabad.
Speaking to journalists, Khawaja Asif said the Constitution has always provided a mechanism for imposing Governor’s Rule in KP, but stressed that resorting to it would not be a desirable course of action. His statements came after a series of conflicting statements over whether the federal government is actually considering such a move.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had earlier said consultations had taken place regarding Governor’s Rule and maintained that the Constitution provides for such a measure. However, in a subsequent clarification reported by a state-run news agency, Kundi said no consultation had so far taken place, adding that the matter could be discussed when the appropriate time arrives.
The conflicting statements have kept speculation alive over the federal government’s position. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, meanwhile, had categorically ruled out Governor’s Rule earlier this week, saying the federal government had no intention of imposing it and arguing that KP needed elected governance and better administration.
Khawaja Asif also targeted PTI over its decision to postpone its planned Islamabad march. The party had originally scheduled the Peshawar-to-Islamabad mobilisation for September 27, but KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi later announced that the political committee had unanimously decided to move the march to October 4.
The defence minister alleged that PTI may have delayed the march because it needed more time to collect funds. He further suggested that the party could eventually cancel the protest after raising the money. These were Khawaja Asif’s political allegations and have not been independently established. The minister also claimed that influential figures were involved in the developments and alleged that arrests were being made at the request of certain individuals.
KP Governor Kundi called out provincial government, arguing that the region is facing major security and governance challenges while the PTI administration is focusing on political mobilisation. The governor pointed to terrorism and law-and-order concerns and criticised the timing of the planned march. He also objected to proposed changes to the KP Police Act, arguing that the amendments could undermine the professional independence of the police.
Kundi said the proposed legislation would give the provincial government greater control over senior police appointments, including the IG, DIGs and DPOs. He indicated that he would examine any legislation reaching his office against constitutional provisions.
PTI’s decision to shift the march date followed days of uncertainty surrounding its mobilisation plans. The party’s political committee eventually approved October 4 as the new departure date from Peshawar. The move came after disagreements and consultations within the opposition alliance over whether the original September 27 schedule should be maintained.
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Reports also indicated that questions had emerged over PTI’s preparedness, transport arrangements and its ability to overcome road blockades, although the party publicly presented the postponement as a strategic decision.
The federal government had already deployed extensive security arrangements and restricted several routes leading towards Islamabad in anticipation of the original protest date.
Despite the escalating political rhetoric, Governor’s Rule has not been imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as of September 26, 2026. The federal position has also produced different signals. Tarar previously rejected the possibility, Kundi has given conflicting accounts over consultations, and Khawaja Asif has now acknowledged that the constitutional option exists while calling it undesirable.
The issue now sits alongside the October 4 PTI march, the worsening federal-provincial confrontation, security concerns in KP and the dispute over proposed police reforms.
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