Achakzai draws Balochistan parallel as he flays Centre over governor's rule in KP

Achakzai draws Balochistan parallel as he flays Centre over governor's rule in KP.

Key points

• News Desk Published October 12, 2026 Updated October 12, 2026 08: 55pm.
• Speaking alongside Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Abbas Nasir additionally drew the Balochistan parallel.
• Speaking to media outside the Parliament House on Monday, Achakzai asserted that there was no writ of the state in half of Balochistan.
• Voicing his criticism of the government's Oct 11 move, he remarked: They call themselves the torchbearers of the law and the Constitution.
• Pakistan is not just the Prime Minister's House or the speaker's chamber; Pakistan is bigger than that, continued Achakzai.

News Desk Published October 12, 2026 Updated October 12, 2026 08: 55pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai on Monday drew a comparison between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, criticising the government's move to impose emergency and governor's rule in the former.

Meanwhile, the federal administration on Sunday imposed emergency in 12 districts of KP, and placed the province under governor's rule, taking note of the "provincial government's deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism".

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the federal cabinet session that approved the measure, and stated regarding terrorism in KP and Balochistan that "the way common citizens are being martyred, the way police officials and security officials, children and mothers there can be nothing more heart-wrenching".

"But you don't impose it there, because the chief minister there is your favourite, " he alleged.

Achakzai's claim of a lack of the state writ in half of Balochistan was apparently in connection with the security situation in the province.

While Balochistan recorded 89, both KP and Balochistan have been facing terrorism, and according to the data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), 199 terrorist attacks were recorded in August throughout Pakistan, out of which KP, excluding the merged districts, recorded 54 terrorist attacks.

Speaking alongside Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Abbas Nasir additionally drew the Balochistan parallel. "If terrorism and peace were an issue. You should have imposed emergency in Balochistan first, " he remarked.

Voicing his criticism of the government's Oct 11 move, he remarked: "They call themselves the torchbearers of the law and the Constitution. Nevertheless, they first attacked the Constitution by coming into power through Form-47 and now by signing the orders of imposing emergency against a administration that held a two-thirds majority."

In his remarks assailing the Centre's move, Achakzai remarked, "This will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of everyone who values Pakistan and democracy to unite against this."

He remarked parties in the opposition would be asked to announce a "democratic struggle" against the move from tomorrow in areas where they had influence.

"We will not abuse anyone; we will not fire bullets – we don't have any – and we will not throw even a stone on anyone."

He remarked the move was an "assault on Pakistan's Constitution and democracy".

"It is the duty of every Pakistani, whether he is a judge, general, in government or not in government, to resist this."

Centre's decision to impose emergency and governor's rule in KP followed weeks of political tensions, with the PTI intending to march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. The march was led by suspended KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

Achakzai remarked Afridi was just demanding access to and medical treatment for Imran.

He reiterated the demand for access to Imran and assured that the PTI leaders would not disclose the details of their conversation with Imran if meetings were allowed. They would only inform the public regarding his health condition, he stated.

He continued that the opposition was still willing to hold negotiations with the administration, but would additionally "continue its struggle against this system".

"They say that Mehmood doesn't want to meet. Am I mad? Pakistan is not just the Prime Minister's House or the speaker's chamber; Pakistan is bigger than that, " continued Achakzai. This person has stated that he would not hold any meetings with administration representatives at the Prime Minister's House or Office or at the chamber of the NA speaker.

He remarked he was ready to hold a gathering at anyone's personal residence.

Achakzai then invited other political parties to attend a planned all-parties conference to discuss how the country should be run. Gohar to approach PHC.

PTI Chairperson Barrister Gohar Khan was additionally present on the occasion and unveiled that he would challenge the federal government's decision to impose emergency and governor's rule in KP in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) tomorrow (Tuesday).

Moreover, a parliamentary party session the same day would decide on how to stage a protest in Parliament, he went on.

"We will raise our voice at every forum. Our long march and protest are ongoing, " Barrister Gohar remarked, adding that the party would not accept emergency and governor's rule in KP.

"Whatever happened on October 11 should not have happened. October 11 will be remembered as a black day in Pakistan's democratic history, " he remarked.

In an official note, the PTI particularly lambasted the PML-N and its ally PPP, saying the imposition of emergency and governor's rule would add another "black mark" to their democratic credentials.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, in the statement, accused both parties of supporting undemocratic and unconstitutional measures while invoking the slogans of democracy.

Terming Oct 11 a "black day for democracy", Akram asserted that neither PTI nor the individuals of KP would accept the "unconstitutional, undemocratic and unlawful imposition of governor rule and emergency in the province, or the removal of its elected government".

He confirmed that the party would continue its peaceful democratic struggle through the courts, parliament, provincial assemblies and public mobilisation until justice was achieved.

According to Akram, the PPP and PML-N should be judged against their political records rather than their repeated claims of championing democracy.

He recalled that PPP founder and former prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, dismissed the Balochistan administration led by Sardar Attaullah Mengal in 1973, followed by governor's rule and a prolonged confrontation with provincial leadership.

Akram additionally referred to governor's rule in the then North-West Frontier Province during ex-PM Benazir Bhutto's administration in 1994, its imposition in Punjab under then-President Asif Ali Zardari in 2009, and the removal of the Balochistan administration led by Nawab Aslam Raisani in 2013.

Criticising the PML-N, Akram cited the 1997 attack on the Supreme Court by party supporters, the nationwide emergency imposed during ex-PM Nawaz Sharif's administration in 1998, the "theft" of PTI's electoral mandate in the February 2024 general elections, the subsequent usurpation of its reserved seats, and the passage of Constitutional amendments, adding that these actions further undermined democratic principles and the public's electoral mandate.

Notably, the PTI information secretary pressed political leaders to learn from the events of 1971, recalling that the Awami League had won a majority in the 1970 general elections but was unable to assume power through a democratic transfer.

He remarked that the failure to respect the electoral outcome and the political confrontation contributed to a national tragedy whose consequences remain deeply significant.

"Pakistan cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of denying political representation or marginalising smaller provinces, as national unity depends on constitutional rule, respect for the people's vote and meaningful provincial autonomy, " Akram stressed.

He questioned the federal government's justification for suspending the KP administration, adding that terrorism required coordinated national action rather than political confrontation.

While nationwide fatalities had climbed by 9 per cent, partly against the backdrop of worsening violence in Balochistan, referring to figures by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), he remarked fatalities involving security personnel and civilians in KP had declined by 16 per cent during the first nine months of 2026.

In short, achakzai draws Balochistan parallel as he flays Centre over governor' s rule in is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.