Pakistan’s Struggle between Civilian Authority and Military

November 1, 2026

The federal government’s decision to impose governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sparked concerns about human rights, civilian authority, and democracy in Pakistan. Aqil Shah, a political scientist at Georgetown University, stated that the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marks a significant escalation in Pakistan’s struggle between civilian authority and the military. It’s an important setback because the PTI has been disempowered and dismantled, pretty much at all levels.” The government’s decision has deprived the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of political representation, leaving them being ruled by a governor and technocrats who act as military proxies. Pakistan military’s political ambitions extend beyond Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s personal grievances, including former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ouster of Munir as Inter-Services Intelligence chief. Pakistan military wants to stop civilian leaders from challenging its dominance over national security, internal security, and electoral politics. At least one person was killed, and more than a dozen others were injured after police opened fire during protests in Bara in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province held against the imposition of emergency rule and the removal of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected government led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The deceased has been identified as a 13-year-old boy. Following the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, protests were held, PTI leaders and workers were arrested, and Habeel Khan (13), who was killed in the gunfire, worked at an eatery in the market. His uncle said that Habeel Khan died in the hospital four days after the protest. The hospital death summary revealed that the causes of death included gunshot injury, cardiac arrest, and septic shock. Many local residents revealed that injured protesters were not able to receive treatment at local healthcare facilities in Bara for fear of arrest, and healthcare providers did not provide them treatment as they feared police raids.