Is Pakistan Really About to Enforce Governor's Rule? Shocking Moves by CM Sohail Afridi Unveiled!

In a significant political development, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), **Sohail Afridi**, recently staged an overnight sit-in outside **Central Jail Rawalpindi** (commonly known as **Adiala jail**). This protest comes after Afridi was denied a meeting with **Imran Khan**, the founder of the **Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)** party, for the eighth consecutive time. The sit-in began on Thursday afternoon and included members of the KP cabinet, with visuals from the PTI showing Afridi and party workers offering **Fajr prayers** outside the prison on Friday morning. In a livestream address, Afridi announced that the sit-in would conclude and indicated plans to approach the **Islamabad High Court** for further action.

In the wake of these events, the **Junior Law and Justice Minister**, **Barrister Aqeel Malik**, expressed that the imposition of **Governor's Rule** is under consideration for KP, citing "security and governance issues" as justifications. Speaking on a **Geo News** program, Malik criticized Afridi and his team, stating they had "badly failed in having any sort of a workable situation." He remarked, "Neither do they want to have any kind of coordination or cohesion with the Centre, nor do they take any action in areas where it was needed," as reported by **Dawn**.

Malik pointed out that the situation in KP necessitates a governmental intervention to ensure an effective administrative structure is maintained. He stated, "The government was pondering over the option to impose Governor's Rule in KP." According to the Pakistani constitution, such a move can be enacted on the Prime Minister's advice under Articles **232** and **234**, with the final authority resting with the President. Malik clarified that while a Governor can recommend this action, the President has the power to initiate it independently, although this would later require approval by a joint sitting of Parliament.

The initial imposition of Governor's Rule can last for up to **two months**, with the possibility of extensions if deemed necessary. Malik accused the KP government of planning to "block routes and cut off the province" from the rest of the country, further emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

On another front, **KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi** has downplayed rumors regarding his potential replacement. He stated that he would abide by his party's decisions should such a development arise. Previously, Kundi had met with **Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif** to discuss these reports, with sources indicating that Sharif expressed confidence in Kundi's position and suggested that he was not being considered for replacement.

This political turmoil comes at a time when the governance and administrative efficacy in KP are being scrutinized more than ever. The potential imposition of Governor's Rule highlights not just the internal conflicts within the PTI but also the rising pressures on regional governance amid larger national challenges. As the situation unfolds, the implications for governance in KP and its interactions with the central government will be closely watched by political analysts and citizens alike.