Peshawar: The federal government placed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leaders in preventive custody after imposing emergency measures and governor's rule in the province.
On Monday, October 12, police confirmed that they detained eight individuals, including Afridi, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, and PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also confirmed that police placed Afridi and some members of his provincial cabinet in preventive custody on Sunday.
Chaudhry said individuals facing criminal cases would be formally charged and tried, while those not wanted in any case would be released.
The detentions followed President Asif Ali Zardari's approval of emergency measures and of governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, October 11.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Afridi was in protective custody, not formally arrested. He also said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was suspended.
However, PTI rejected the federal government's explanation and called for the immediate release of its detained leaders.
Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram alleged that the detentions were intended to weaken PTI and undermine the province's elected leadership.
The developments come amid the party's long march demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The situation escalated the confrontation between the federal government and PTI, raising questions about provincial autonomy and the future of the suspended provincial administration.
