Schools closed. The internet partially shut. Roads blocked by shipping containers. The army arriving in town. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province that is Imran Khan's party stronghold, is under a state of emergency, with the provincial government suspended in another dramatic escalation of the standoff between the former prime minister's supporters and Pakistan's state.
The federal government says the step, which it maintains is allowed by the constitution, was needed to protect the province's population from the threat of terror. Federal information minister Attah Tarrar told journalists on Sunday that "the PTI KPK government was hand in glove with the terrorists." He did not elaborate or provide evidence, but promised to do so soon.
Two days later no update had been provided, though schools had reopened in Peshawar and most parts of the province, and internet services had been restored.
While police would not confirm any detentions, a crackdown is clearly under way to prevent protests, and most PTI leaders in the province have gone into hiding. On Tuesday dozens of PTI supporters took to the streets in Bara, in Khyber district, the hometown of provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. There were reports of tear gas shelling in the area.
Thousands of Khan's supporters have been rallying for days across the province demanding his release, and some fear the emergency measures could backfire, leading to more instability rather than less.