Pakistan detains hundreds from former PM Khan's party as protests falter
Pakistani authorities have detained hundreds of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan following the imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government claims the measures are necessary to address security concerns, while protests in support of the jailed leader have begun to falter.
Why it matters
The political instability in Pakistan, particularly in a border province, has significant implications for regional security and democratic processes.
Pakistani authorities have detained hundreds of members of Imran Khan's party, police officials told AFP on Monday (October 12, 2026), as a protest movement in support of the jailed former Prime Minister appeared to falter.
The detentions followed the Central government's imposition of emergency rule on Sunday (October 11) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial stronghold of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, after major protests demanding the former premier's release.
Two police officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said 278 PTI members had been detained in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province since the emergency declaration.
The government disbanded the PTI-led government under the emergency measures that it says were imposed due to deteriorating security in the border Province, which is also battling militant attacks.
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