169 PTI Workers Arrested in Swabi After Governor’s Rule in KP
SWABI, PAKISTAN — October 12, 2026: Police have reportedly arrested 169 workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Swabi as authorities intensify action against party activists following the imposition of emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to police sources cited in local reporting, arrests were made in several parts of the district, including Shewa Adda, Yar Hussain, Razaar, Swabi city, Topi, Lahore and Gadoon. The operation was continuing on Monday, with a heavy police presence reported across the district.
Police sources said the detained individuals included local party office-bearers and active workers. They said the arrests were linked to preparations for PTI’s planned long march and concerns about a possible disruption of public order.
Authorities indicated that further arrests could follow as security arrangements remain in place.
Arrest Figures Require Further Confirmation
The reported figure of 169 arrests has not been independently confirmed through an official, publicly available consolidated police statement reviewed for this article.
Other contemporaneous reporting gave a different count, reporting 59 PTI workers arrested in Swabi and six in Khyber district. The discrepancy may reflect different reporting times, geographic coverage or figures supplied by separate sources. The total number of people detained therefore remains subject to confirmation.
The distinction is important as arrests continue across the province following the political and administrative changes announced on Sunday.
Crackdown Follows Emergency and Governor’s Rule
President Asif Ali Zardari approved emergency measures and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, suspending the provincial government led by PTI. The federal government cited security concerns and alleged shortcomings in counterterrorism coordination.
PTI has rejected the intervention, arguing that it undermines the party’s political mandate and provincial autonomy. The move has intensified tensions between the federal government and the party founded by former prime minister Imran Khan.
The arrests have also affected preparations for PTI’s planned mobilisation towards Islamabad, which the party has linked to its demand for Khan’s release from prison.
Security Tightened Across KP
Police deployments and restrictions have been reported in several areas as authorities seek to prevent unrest. The wider security response has included roadblocks and disruptions to movement in parts of Peshawar, alongside closures of educational institutions in affected districts.
The legal grounds for individual arrests, the number of people formally charged and the status of those detained were not established in the reporting reviewed.
Further official information is needed to clarify the final arrest count and whether those detained will face charges, be released or remain in custody.
