Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has claimed that one person was killed and more than a dozen injured after police allegedly opened fire on protesters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, 14 October, as political tensions in the province spiralled following the imposition of emergency rule and governor's rule by the federal government. The reported casualties could not be independently verified, according to Pakistani daily The Express Tribune.

The crisis deepened after the federal government declared a state of emergency on Sunday and suspended the PTI-led provincial government — rendering PTI leader Sohail Afridi non-functional in his role as the province's chief minister. The move has drawn fierce resistance from PTI supporters on the ground.

How the Violence Unfolded

According to Khyber District Police Officer Waqar Ahmed, hundreds of PTI supporters assembled at Bara Bazaar on Tuesday afternoon to demonstrate against governor's rule. Police responded with tear gas and live rounds, prompting the crowd to disperse temporarily. Roughly 90 minutes later, a second large group — led by provincial assembly member Abdul Ghani — marched from Minar Chowk towards Bara Chowk, raising anti-government slogans.

Protesters allegedly damaged government property and set traffic signals ablaze after reaching the intersection. The confrontation then escalated when demonstrators purportedly confined 15 police personnel inside a tehsil municipal office and reportedly seized their weapons and uniforms, according to local media citing police sources.

Casualties and Conflicting Accounts

PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi claimed the violence left 11 party workers injured and one dead, though these figures remain unverified. Pakistani daily Dawn, citing eyewitnesses, reported that at least five protesters sustained injuries, while police arrested 50 people for allegedly attempting to create unrest. A doctor at Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar told Dawn that the facility had received more than a dozen injured individuals, including four policemen.

Videos circulating on social media showed armed personnel firing on a street as people fled, and footage of police beating individuals with batons. The authenticity of the videos has not been independently confirmed.

PTI Office Torched, NADRA Office Targeted

Earlier on Tuesday, a separate protest against governor's rule turned violent in the Bara Bazaar area, where demonstrators allegedly torched a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office, according to local media reports citing police.

This comes amid a broader crackdown on PTI following the incarceration of its founder, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose party has governed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The governor's rule effectively strips the party of its most significant administrative stronghold.

Background and What Comes Next

The imposition of governor's rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marks a significant escalation in the Centre's campaign against PTI. Critics argue the move is politically motivated; the federal government contends it was necessary to restore order in a province facing deteriorating security. Notably, this is the latest in a series of confrontations between the PTI-led provincial administration and Islamabad that have intensified since Khan's arrest.

With protests continuing and the security situation in flux, all eyes are now on whether the federal government will attempt further administrative measures — and whether PTI can maintain its mobilisation in the absence of its jailed founder.