K-P Police warns against unlawful gatherings as governor’s rule looms

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police on Saturday warned citizens against participating in unlawful gatherings, saying those involved in vandalism, violence and disrupting law and order would be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. The guidelines came as the threat of governor's rule looms over the province amid intense friction between the Centre and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on the issue of terrorism in the province and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's long march to Islamabad. The police issued written operational guidelines for dealing with riots and protests, stating that damage to government installations, buildings and property would not be permitted during any demonstration. Read: PM Shehbaz, President Zardari discuss overall situation amid intense tensions between Centre, K-P The guidelines warned that those participating in unlawful gatherings, violent activities or acts of provocation would face strict legal action. Action would also be taken in accordance with the law against those disrupting public order, attacking security forces or buildings, or endangering the lives and property of citizens, the guidelines stated. Citizens were urged to remain peaceful, abide by the law and avoid being misled by troublemakers. According to the guidelines, special arrangements would be made to protect police stations, government buildings, banks, petrol pumps, commercial centres and major roads. Protests and related activities would also be video-recorded to assist in subsequent legal proceedings. The guidelines further stated that coordination with district administrations and other relevant institutions would be ensured to deal effectively with protest situations. The federal government is considering various constitutional options, including the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in K-P, in view of the situation in the province. Consultations on the matter were continuing. Earlier today, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the overall political and security situation in the country, with the deteriorating law and order situation in K-P also coming under discussion. Also Read: Tarar lambasts PTI and K-P govt, says ‘hours meant for governance spent plotting prisoner’s release’ Separately, PM Shehbaz also met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss the situation in K-P and other political matters. Later, K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met President Zardari and briefed him on the overall security situation in the country, particularly the deteriorating law and order situation in K-P. The federal cabinet meeting has been convened for 9:30am on Sunday, where the situation in K-P and the available constitutional options are expected to be discussed.

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ECP director general martyred in K-P’s Tank after gun attack

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Director General Shamshad Akhtar was martyred in a terrorist attack in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Tank district on Saturday after unidentified armed men opened fire on him. A press release from the ECP spokesperson described the incident as a targeted killing, stating that the officer was an honest, conscientious and dedicated public servant who had no personal enmity with anyone. According to the statement, the late officer was held in high regard by his colleagues and fellow officers. #ECP pic.twitter.com/w16CCZ26ej — Election Commission of Pakistan (OFFICIAL)🇵🇰 (@ECP_Pakistan) October 10, 2026 “The chief election commissioner, members of the commission, the ECP secretary and other staff express deep grief and sorrow over his death,” the press release stated further. Extending their condolences to the bereaved family, they said the entire commission stood with them during this difficult time. They also prayed for the deceased’s forgiveness and elevation of his status in the hereafter, and for patience and strength for his family. The ECP and its employees called on the government to take effective measures to protect all government employees from terrorist attacks. K-P has faced persistent militant violence in 2026, with the province’s southern districts, including Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan, emerging as major security hotspots. In May, The Express Tribune reported that provincial police had sought a special federal security package to strengthen police stations, establish new posts and upgrade security infrastructure in the affected districts. The threat has also become more sophisticated, with militants increasingly deploying drones, thermal imaging and night-vision equipment against police personnel and security installations. According to The Express Tribune, 156 police personnel were killed in militant attacks across K-P and its tribal districts between January and July 2026. Violence remained concentrated in Hangu, Bannu, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and Khyber, and was reportedly spreading to the mountainous areas of Malakand Division, including Swat. Tank witnessed several deadly attacks this year. On July 24, at least 15 security personnel and a government official were martyred in an attack on a joint police and security forces checkpost in the district. Then again, on September 28, three traffic police personnel were martyred when unidentified armed men opened fire on their vehicle in the Wazirabad area of Tank. The attacks underscore the continuing vulnerability of law-enforcement personnel in the province’s southern districts.

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Islamabad student found dead after allegedly losing Rs7m in education scam

A young student who dreamed of studying at a US university was found hanging from a tree near a road in Islamabad on Friday, after her family allegedly lost around Rs7 million to a consultant who promised to secure her admission and scholarship, her relatives alleged. The student had completed her bachelor’s degree from the International Islamic University Islamabad, earning a gold medal, and hoped to continue her studies abroad. Her family said they sold a plot of land and jewellery to finance the dream, only to discover that the admission letter, scholarship letter and other documents provided by the consultant were all fake. Read: Medical student dies in suspected suicide According to an Islamabad police spokesperson, Sharif Ullah, the student’s body was found hanging from a tree near a road in the jurisdiction of the Ramna police station on Friday. Police said the incident appeared to be a suicide at first, but the actual cause would be established after a post-mortem examination and further investigation. Her body was shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where the post-mortem examination was under way. Speaking to Express News outside the hospital’s mortuary, the student’s maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, said she was an exceptionally capable student who had completed her BS degree with a gold medal and wanted to pursue further education. He said her father had been supplying milk on a motorcycle in Islamabad for the past 30 years and lived with his family in a rented flat in the capital. According to Amjad, her niece met a man while visiting a place for an interview. The man claimed he could secure her admission to a university in the United States. After discussing the offer with her father, the family decided to pursue the opportunity despite opposition from her brothers. Her father sold a plot in a private housing society and paid Rs2.1 million to the consultant, Amjad said. Also Read: Domestic reasons suspected in Lahore university student’s suicide attempt: police The consultant later demanded more money, saying it needed to be deposited in the student’s bank account to generate a bank statement required for the application, he added. Amjad said his brother-in-law (the victim's father) then handed over his wife’s jewellery to the consultant. Instead of depositing the jewellery’s value into the student’s account, the man allegedly deposited it into his own account and gave her a fake bank receipt. Amjad, a lawyer by profession, said the family approached him only after handing over the money and jewellery, when the consultant’s repeated delays in arranging his niece’s travel to the United States raised their suspicions. He said he examined the documents provided by the consultant, including an admission letter purportedly issued by Harvard University, a scholarship letter and other university-related papers. He then had them checked through relatives living in the United States. “We found out that all the documents were fake,” he said. Amjad said he told his niece that the family had been defrauded, prompting her to break down in tears. Read More: Student critically injured in fall at Lahore university “She told me not to tell her father because he would not be able to bear it,” he said, adding that she remained deeply distressed over what had happened. The student’s younger brother said she had wanted to continue her education, but the alleged fraud had shattered the family’s hopes. The police said the circumstances surrounding her death would become clearer after the post-mortem examination and investigation.

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Amnesty International says Punjab anti-terror law raises concern on 'right to fair trial'

Amnesty International said on Friday that the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, raised "serious" concerns about the "right to a fair trial", further noting that the amendment allowed for "secret trials" that could result in grave human rights violations. On August 31, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests and a walkout by opposition lawmakers. In a public statement, Amnesty International noted that the amendment was a "glaring attack on the right to fair trial in Pakistan". Pakistan: The Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, raises serious concerns about the right to a fair trial. In a new public statement, Amnesty International examines the amendment against Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law and highlights how… — Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) October 9, 2026 The statement added that the amendment created a mechanism for trials shrouded in "complete secrecy", exceeding permissible exceptions to the "right to a fair trial", which includes a public trial, under international human rights law, further adding that it deepened concerns regarding "past misuse" of anti-terrorism laws that had resulted in grave human rights violations. Read: LHC seeks arguments on anti-terror bill's legality The statement also noted that the process and criteria for designating a trial as a “special security case” were highly vague and lacked transparency. "The text of section 21AAA(5)(b) suggests that the designated authority has full discretion to decide whether a case or a class of cases require extraordinary protection measures and that the chief justice is bound by this decision. Neither the amendment nor the original act offers a definition of what constitutes extraordinary protection," it added. Amnesty further stated that the amendment allowed a level of secrecy with enormous potential for miscarriage of justice. "The amendment is applicable to Punjab province, which is Pakistan’s most populous province consisting of 127,333,305 people (50.9% of the total population)37, and if this act is allowed to be implemented it could lead to a knock-on effect in other provinces who could pass similar legislation." Background of law The amendment inserted a new Section 21AAA into the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, creating a “special security case” mechanism for cases in which participants are considered to require extraordinary protection. Read More: Punjab Assembly passes controversial anti-terror law A designated authority — an officer of at least BS-20 whose identity would itself remain confidential — can declare a case or a class of cases a special security case. At the authority’s request, the LHC chief justice can assign the case to an Anti-Terrorism Court judge. The amendment also said that the identities of judges, public prosecutors, defence counsel, police officers, witnesses and other persons involved in such proceedings “shall not be disclosed”. Judicial orders will use official titles instead of judges’ names, and witnesses would be identified by codes issued by the designated authority. The proceedings could be held at secure premises or conducted through video links, including from prisons. The amendment also allows the government to adopt other security measures it considers appropriate.

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Amnesty International says Punjab anti-terror law raises concern on 'right to fair trial'

Amnesty International said on Friday that the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, raised "serious" concerns about the "right to a fair trial", further noting that the amendment allowed for "secret trials" that could result in grave human rights violations. On August 31, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests and a walkout by opposition lawmakers. In a public statement, Amnesty International noted that the amendment was a "glaring attack on the right to fair trial in Pakistan". Pakistan: The Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2026, raises serious concerns about the right to a fair trial. In a new public statement, Amnesty International examines the amendment against Pakistan’s obligations under international human rights law and highlights how… — Amnesty International South Asia, Regional Office (@amnestysasia) October 9, 2026 The statement added that the amendment created a mechanism for trials shrouded in "complete secrecy", exceeding permissible exceptions to the "right to a fair trial", which includes a public trial, under international human rights law, further adding that it deepened concerns regarding "past misuse" of anti-terrorism laws that had resulted in grave human rights violations. Read: LHC seeks arguments on anti-terror bill's legality The statement also noted that the process and criteria for designating a trial as a “special security case” were highly vague and lacked transparency. "The text of section 21AAA(5)(b) suggests that the designated authority has full discretion to decide whether a case or a class of cases require extraordinary protection measures and that the chief justice is bound by this decision. Neither the amendment nor the original act offers a definition of what constitutes extraordinary protection," it added. Amnesty further stated that the amendment allowed a level of secrecy with enormous potential for miscarriage of justice. "The amendment is applicable to Punjab province, which is Pakistan’s most populous province consisting of 127,333,305 people (50.9% of the total population)37, and if this act is allowed to be implemented it could lead to a knock-on effect in other provinces who could pass similar legislation." Background of law The amendment inserted a new Section 21AAA into the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, creating a “special security case” mechanism for cases in which participants are considered to require extraordinary protection. Read More: Punjab Assembly passes controversial anti-terror law A designated authority — an officer of at least BS-20 whose identity would itself remain confidential — can declare a case or a class of cases a special security case. At the authority’s request, the LHC chief justice can assign the case to an Anti-Terrorism Court judge. The amendment also said that the identities of judges, public prosecutors, defence counsel, police officers, witnesses and other persons involved in such proceedings “shall not be disclosed”. Judicial orders will use official titles instead of judges’ names, and witnesses would be identified by codes issued by the designated authority. The proceedings could be held at secure premises or conducted through video links, including from prisons. The amendment also allows the government to adopt other security measures it considers appropriate.

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Sanaullah links K-P governor’s rule to counterterrorism cooperation, not long march

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Friday that the proposed governor’s rule or emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was related to the matter of counterterrorism cooperation, not the PTI’s planned long march, and could be resolved if the provincial government stood alongside the federal government and law enforcement agencies. Speaking on a private television programme, Naya Pakistan, Sanaullah said the negotiations appeared to be heading towards a dead end as the PTI did not seem willing to abandon its plan for a long march and accept the offer of talks. Linking the possibility of governor’s rule or an emergency in K-P to the PTI leadership and provincial government’s commitment to the fight against terrorism, he said the matter could be resolved if PTI leaders and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi declared their support for the federal government and law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism. Read: CM Afridi says PTI to unveil ‘final plan’ in Swabi as long march enters 6th day, heads to Charsadda He stressed that the proposed imposition of governor’s rule had nothing to do with the long march. “If they do not make this commitment, then whether they hold the long march all the way to Islamabad or keep it short of Islamabad will make no difference,” he said. The PML-N leader said that, over the past three or four days, the K-P chief minister had stated that no military operation would be allowed in the province. Sanaullah said there would be no need to displace people or evacuate valleys, as the proposed measures would involve intelligence-based operations. “Imposing an emergency certainly does not mean that those districts will be evacuated and people turned into internally displaced persons (IDPs). Rather, intelligence-based operations will be conducted within the territorial jurisdiction,” he said. During the same program, K-P Law Minister Aftab Alam expressed surprise at what he described as ambiguity in statements by federal ministers on the proposed measures. “One minister says that if the long march is not called off, an emergency will be imposed, while another says that the government wants to impose an emergency or governor’s rule because the provincial government is not cooperating with the federation on terrorism-related matters,” he said. Alam said he believed a narrative was being built against the K-P government as part of what he called a “nefarious conspiracy”. “God forbid, it is being suggested that we are somehow on the side of someone else in these matters. However, our stance is clear: this war is ours even before it is the federation’s,” he said. Also Read: Govt trying to avoid ‘last option’ but may consider governor’s rule in K-P if no alternative remains: Khawaja Asif He maintained that the PTI and the K-P government stood with law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism, adding that the provincial government had strengthened the police. “Our mission is very clear, and it is being deliberately made controversial,” he said. The issue of Governor’s Rule has become a major point of contention between the federal and K-P government. On September 21, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government was consulting the law ministry on legal options for the province, including Governor’s Rule, if the PTI proceeded with its long march. Two days later, however, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out any plan to impose Governor’s Rule, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration. Some federal ministers publicly raised the possibility of federal intervention in K-P. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said consultations were under way on the "constitutional and legal option" of imposing Governors' Rule. Afridi, however, rejected the warnings and said he would not retreat from his position because of threats of Governors' Rule or an emergency. He also said PTI supporters could take to the streets at short notice if an attempt was made to remove him. However, amid the speculation, just days before the PTI’s planned long march, the prime minister and the president formed a committee last week to negotiate with the PTI and other opposition parties over the march, while expressing concern over the province’s deteriorating law and order situation. The government and opposition parties held negotiations over two days, and the talks initially appeared to be bearing fruit. However, just as the two sides were nearing agreement on most of the contentious issues, a deadlock emerged, bringing the negotiation process to a halt. The government blamed the K-P government, particularly Afridi, for the deadlock and failure of the negotiations. The PTI, however, claimed that the talks broke down over its demand for a meeting with the party’s founder, which the government refused to accept. Read More: Bilawal urges PTI to return to political engagement, says governor's rule in K-P would be 'atomic bomb' As the negotiation process collapsed, CM Afridi began his long march towards Islamabad, further escalating tensions between the two sides, with both sides continuing to trade allegations. As tensions peaked, PM Shehbaz once again entered the fray and extended an olive branch to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to engage with the opposition if the party ended its long march and sit-ins. The PTI, however, rejected the offer as its march continued towards Islamabad, entering its sixth day on Friday. The convoy moved towards Charsadda, with CM Afridi leading the procession.

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Property sale NOC linked to sanitation fee payment

The Punjab government has made payment of the sanitation fee mandatory for obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) required for the sale of property. The distribution of the first sanitation bills across the province is under way. Under the new condition, an NOC will not be issued for property transactions unless the sanitation fee has been paid. The move has reportedly affected property transactions as the government prepares to complete the distribution of around five million bills this month. The new requirement comes after the government began billing urban property owners under the Suthra Punjab programme this month. The excise, taxation and narcotics control department has been assigned the responsibility for billing and collecting the sanitation fee from around five million residential and commercial properties in urban areas. Under the mechanism, two bills will be issued during a six-month period towards the annual sanitation fee liability. Property owners will have 60 days from receipt of a bill to make payment, with late payments subject to penalties. The government expects to collect around Rs40 billion annually through the sanitation fee. Data integration between the excise department and Suthra Punjab programme has been completed, allowing sanitation fee records to be linked with property data. The integration has also resulted in the NOC condition being introduced before completion of the province-wide bill distribution. Previously, payment of property tax was required before the NOC could be issued. The requirement has been extended to include payment of the sanitation fee. The development has raised concerns for property owners whose sanitation fee bills have yet to be delivered. The government had approved monthly sanitation charges ranging from Rs300 for residential properties measuring up to five marla to Rs5,000 for over 40 marla. Commercial properties are subject to charges ranging from Rs500 to Rs3,000 depending on their size. The excise department is collecting the sanitation fee alongside property tax. Inspectors in the relevant excise circles have been tasked with delivering the bills to property owners.

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