ISLAMABAD — The federal government has formally constituted an 11-member body to assist the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in managing provincial governance, naming key figures as KP advisory council members under a newly issued administrative framework.
The development follows the enforcement of constitutional emergency provisions under Articles 232 and 234 in the province on 11 October 2026, according to a report by Express News. Under Federal Order No. 1/2026, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will discharge the provincial government's administrative duties on behalf of the federal executive, drawing direct assistance and counsel from the newly formed body.
Composition of the 11-Member Council
The prominent KP advisory council members appointed to the body include Tariq Mahmood Pasha, Dr. Aamir Abdullah, and retired Lieutenant General Nigar Johar.
Other individuals notified as council members are Samar Bilour, Dr. Sarfaraz Ali, Aamir Javed, Dr. M. Irshad, Kifayatullah, Tayyab Qureshi, Usman Saifullah Khan, and Asif Rafique. Alongside the advisory body, Sanaullah Advocate was notified as the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to represent the administration in legal matters.
Provincial administrative responsibilities are mandated to proceed in accordance with constitutional requirements and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Rules of Business 1985, aligning strictly with the federal executive order taking immediate effect.
Area Development Secretariat for Designated Districts
In tandem with naming the KP advisory council members, the federal government directed the immediate establishment of an Area Development Secretariat (ADS) across designated districts to bolster law and order, civilian protection, and local administrative governance.
The initiative covers 12 specific districts: Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Kurram, Orakzai, North Waziristan, Upper South Waziristan, and Lower South Waziristan. The secretariat will operate under the supervision of the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC), which will comprise prominent figures from these designated localities.
Administrative Powers and Oversight
The Area Development Secretariat will be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary for KP (Designated Districts), who will also serve as the principal Administrator for the specified areas. Provincial officers and institutional staff deployed across these 12 districts will be placed under the administrative and operational oversight of the secretariat.
According to the official order, the Administrator is empowered to exercise executive, administrative, and law enforcement authority in the designated zones. This includes issuing directives to civil administration, police, and military authorities, allocating development funds, and coordinating security measures. The order noted that specific provisions of Chapter III, Part IV, and Article 175(3) of the Constitution, alongside the standard provincial Rules of Business 1985, will not apply in these designated regions under the emergency arrangement.
