Pakistan Forms 11-Member Advisory Council to Assist KP Governor Following Emergency Rule
The federal government has issued an official order under which the governor will exercise provincial government functions on behalf of the federal government, with assistance from the newly established council.
Pakistan’s federal government has constituted an 11-member advisory council to assist Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi in administering provincial affairs following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province.
The federal government has issued an official order under which the governor will exercise provincial government functions on behalf of the federal government, with assistance from the newly established council.
The council comprises Tariq Mahmood Pasha, Dr Amir Abdullah, retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, Samar Bilour, Dr Sarfraz Ali, Amir Javed, Dr M Irshad, Kifayatullah, Tayyab Qureshi, Usman Saifullah Khan and Asif Rafiq.
The members have been drawn from different professional backgrounds and key sectors, including health, education, finance and security. Among them is retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, Pakistan’s first female lieutenant general, who has been included in connection with the health sector.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the council during a press conference in Islamabad, describing its members as “shining stars”.
He said Muhammad Yahya Akhunzada would serve as the council’s Additional Chief Secretary, while a separate secretariat would be established with direct funding to support its operations.
The federal government has also appointed Advocate Sanaullah as the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to the official order, provincial affairs will be conducted in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Rules of Business, 1985. The order has taken effect immediately.
Federal Ministers Defend Emergency, Cite Deteriorating Security
During a joint press conference in Islamabad, federal ministers, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the law minister, information minister and minister of state for interior, defended the imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the security situation had deteriorated in 12 areas of the province, including the former FATA region, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank.
He accused the PTI-led provincial government of failing to cooperate with federal authorities in counterterrorism efforts and alleged that the party had been siding with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The interior minister further alleged that PTI leaders had failed to condemn terrorist attacks in the province.
Naqvi maintained that the emergency was not imposed overnight, saying the federal government had spent more than a month attempting to negotiate with the KP administration, but those efforts had failed to produce results.
The federal law and information ministers also outlined the new administrative arrangements, confirming that Governor Faisal Karim Kundi would exercise provincial government functions with the assistance of the advisory council.
Emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The development follows the federal government’s decision on October 11, 2026, to impose emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of Pakistan’s Constitution.
President Asif Ali Zardari signed the proclamation following a summary forwarded by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the advice of the federal cabinet, citing escalating terrorist attacks, deteriorating law and order, and the provincial government’s alleged failure to effectively combat terrorism.
The decision removed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government, which had been governing KP amid strained relations with Islamabad. The chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general were directed to relinquish their positions immediately.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the federal cabinet, accused the KP government of remaining a silent spectator while civilians were being targeted by terrorists and security forces continued counterterrorism operations.
He said the province had received Rs800 billion over the past decade to combat terrorism but had failed to adequately strengthen its Counter Terrorism Department.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan rejected the emergency proclamation, describing it as undemocratic and a serious political mistake. He urged the federal government to reverse its decision, saying the people would not accept measures undermining their rights.
