Pakistan: President puts Khan stronghold province under emergency rule

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday announced that the northwestern Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been put under emergency rule, effectively removing power from former Prime Minster Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

The imposition of emergency rule comes as thousands of Khan supporters continue to stage anti-government protests and demand the former leader be released from jail.

Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif proposed the move, which Zardari signed into order on Sunday.

The suspension of regional government was justified under constitutional articles that allow the central government to confront security threats and give it sweeping powers in emergency situations.

Sharif's government claims regional authorities have not done enough to curb Islamist violence in the province.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn

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