Pakistan’s opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai has criticised the federal government’s decision to impose emergency rule and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), questioning why similar measures have not been introduced in Balochistan despite persistent security challenges.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House on Monday, the National Assembly opposition leader compared the security situations in the two provinces and accused the government of applying different standards for political reasons.

“There is no writ of the state in half of Balochistan,” Achakzai claimed, alleging that the federal government had avoided imposing similar measures there because the provincial chief minister was politically favoured.

The federal government imposed emergency measures in 12 districts of KP on Sunday and placed the province under governor’s rule, citing what it described as the provincial government's disengagement from counterterrorism efforts.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who chaired the federal cabinet meeting that approved the measures, highlighted the toll of terrorism on civilians, police personnel, security officials, women and children in KP and Balochistan.

According to figures compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS),........

© Naya Daur