Islamabad, Oct. 17 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday claimed that his government was "compelled" to impose emergency and Governor's Rule in the opposition-ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

According to Dawn, Shehbaz attempted to justify the heavy-handed intervention by pointing fingers at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led administration, alleging a complete breakdown in cooperation over counter-terrorism operations.

However, the move has drawn intense scrutiny, highlighting Islamabad's mounting desperation to crush political opposition led by former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI under the pretext of maintaining law and order.

Defending the decision to strip the elected provincial administratio...