Islamabad:
President Asif Ali Zardari has signed a summary imposing emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister following approval by the Federal Cabinet.
The presidential proclamation states that the deteriorating law-and-order situation and rising incidents of terrorism in the province pose serious threats to the lives and property of the people. It notes an increase in terrorist attacks on government installations, critical infrastructure, and law-enforcement agencies. The provincial government, the proclamation says, has failed to demonstrate the required resolve and take effective measures to curb terrorism and lawlessness.
According to the announcement, the provincial government can no longer be run in accordance with the Constitution. The Federal Government may direct the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to assume all or any of the functions of the provincial government. The Governor will exercise these powers as assigned by the Federal Government. Powers of other provincial authorities and institutions (except the Provincial Assembly) may also be exercised by the Governor under federal directions, while the powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be exercised by Parliament or under its authority.
The Chief Minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, and the Advocate General will immediately cease to hold office. The presidential proclamation takes effect at once.
Earlier, a Federal Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister was held to review the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It was attended by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Salak Hussain, Attaullah Tarar, and other members. The Cabinet was briefed on the worsening law-and-order and terrorism situation and the provincial government’s alleged deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism.
After a detailed review, the Cabinet recommended that the Prime Minister advise the President to invoke constitutional powers and impose emergency in the province under Articles 232 and 234. The advice was sent from the Prime Minister’s House to the Presidency, and the President signed the summary.
Sources said that before the final decision, the Federal Cabinet had given the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government a last opportunity through Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Negotiations through this channel failed. During the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar also contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman for consultations.
The Cabinet expressed deep concern over the terrorism situation in the province and noted that the provincial government’s apparent disengagement from the war on terror, instead of efforts to eliminate it, was alarming.
Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been put in place outside the Prime Minister’s House, with additional police personnel deployed on Constitution Avenue and armoured vehicles positioned for security.
