ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly and the Senate, on Wednesday adopted separate resolutions approving the proclamation of emergency issued by President Asif Ali Zardari in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11.
The developments come following the federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in K-P, suspending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial administration amid a dispute over the province’s security situation and counter-terrorism measures.
The decision follows weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the PTI after the latter announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.
As the National Assembly passed the resolution, the Senate also gave its approval for the imposition of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The resolution was tabled by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary in country’s both houses.
‘Approval was a constitutional requirement’
Addressing the house, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said presenting the Proclamation of Emergency resolution before the House and obtaining its approval is a constitutional requirement.
The law minister also explained that emergency was imposed in KP as the security situation there was becoming a threat to “national security”.
He emphasised that the decision to impose emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was necessitated by the internal disturbances in the province and the provincial government’s lack of seriousness in dealing with terrorism.
“3787 terrorist incidents have been recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past year” he added.
Achakzai criticises federal government’s move
Speaking after Tarar, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai described the government as “a terrorist government”, alleging that it had been formed through money and coercion with the support of uniformed institutions, and defended non-functional chief minister Sohail Afridi’s opposition to what he termed oppression.
The opposition leader questioned the government’s mandate in the February 2024 general elections, quipping that the opposition would “surrender” if the minister could swear that the government won those polls fairly.
PTI approached the court
The PTI has approached the Peshawar High Court to contest the emergency and governor’s rule, bringing the federal government’s intervention under legal scrutiny and restore the elected govt in KP.
The petition was filed through lawyer Ali Zaman on behalf of PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.
Gohar stated the measures had effectively brought democratic governance in the province to an end and expressed hope that the court would restore the elected setup.
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