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Security personnel stand guard in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the 13th local time. / EPA, Yonhap News

Supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with police in northwestern Pakistan, coming two days after the federal government suspended the provincial government led by Khan's party.

According to Reuters on the 14th local time, clashes erupted the previous day in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the suspension of the provincial government. Officials from Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claimed that police fired tear gas and live rounds at supporters. Provincial administrative authorities denied allegations of firing live ammunition.

According to PTI officials, five people were injured in the day's clashes, with the most severe damage occurring in Bara, about 15 kilometers from the provincial capital, Peshawar. Ikram Khatana, PTI's central information secretary, said unidentified individuals set fire to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office in Bara and broke into neighboring offices.

Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide to Khan and a PTI spokesperson, posted video footage on X (formerly Twitter) depicting what he described as violence in Bara Bazaar. He characterized the declaration of emergency and governor's rule as a coup, warning that unrest could spread elsewhere.

The provincial administration presented a different account. An administration official dismissed claims that police fired live ammunition as "baseless and absurd," countering that anonymous social media accounts circulated AI-generated videos. He stated that police responded with measured restraint to riots and vandalism, arresting roughly 50 individuals and registering four cases under anti-terrorism laws. He added that accountability for the incident at the NADRA office would be determined through an investigation examining video footage and witness statements.

Earlier on the 11th, the federal government declared a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, placing the province under direct federal rule on grounds of surging militant violence. The measure came as PTI was organizing a march toward the capital, Islamabad, demanding Khan's release. Consequently, PTI has pushed back, contending that citing militancy is merely a "pretext to politically seize control of the provincial government."

With the suspension of the only provincial government ruled by PTI, Khan, who has been imprisoned since 2023, suffered yet another blow. Khan faces multiple allegations, including corruption and inciting riots targeting military installations. His wife, three sisters, and dozens of party activists remain in custody. Khan denies all charges, maintaining that they are politically motivated.

                                                                                                               Jeong Ri-na