Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, approving the recommendations of the federal cabinet. The move comes amid growing tension between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial government over political and security issues.
According to a recent report by Dawn, Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution have been invoked for the emergency and governor’s rule. Earlier, an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the law and order situation in the province and the anti-terrorism operations.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal cabinet has accused the provincial government of non-cooperation in the fight against terrorism and indifference to security matters and has approved the Prime Minister to recommend the President to use his constitutional powers. The federal government maintains that extraordinary measures have become necessary to deal with the law and order situation in the province.
After the President’s approval, the federal government has also announced the appointment of Dr. Muhammad Fakhr Alam Irfan as the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to an official notification, his appointment will be effective immediately and will remain in effect until further orders.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi has earlier made it clear that his government will not accept any illegal measure of Governor’s rule or emergency. PTI has also announced to continue the protest opposing the possible measures of the federal government.
The imposition of emergency and Governor’s rule in the province is likely to create further tension in the relations between the center and the province. The practical effects of this decision, the powers of the provincial administration and the future of the elected government will be clear from the constitutional measures and their implementation.
## Background: Why did the emergency come about?
The issue of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has come to light at a time when differences are growing between the federal government and the PTI provincial government on counter-terrorism strategy, law and order, and political issues.
The federal government maintains that the cooperation of the provincial government is essential for effective operations against terrorism and in the current situation, the federation has to take constitutional measures. On the other hand, the PTI has been emphasizing on defending its constitutional authority and the mandate of the elected government in the province.
PTI’s protest march and demand for a meeting with party founder Imran Khan have also played an important role in the political tension. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has opposed the emergency and governor’s rule and said that his party will resist such measures.
Constitutionally, Article 232 deals with the imposition of emergency in emergency situations, while Article 234 provides a procedure for governor’s rule in case of failure to run the constitutional system in the province. The legal effects of declaring an emergency and imposing Governor’s rule are different, so their scope and duration will be determined in light of the relevant constitutional provisions and official announcements.
The role of the National Assembly and the Senate will also be important after the emergency, as under Article 232 of the Constitution, in certain circumstances, the declaration of emergency must be submitted for approval by both houses of parliament within a specified period.
In the coming days, attention will be paid to the legal and political implications of this decision, changes in the provincial administration, and the possible reactions between the federal and provincial governments.
We welcome your contributions to The Pakistan Observer. Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases and news features to our editorial team.
Please send your submissions to our News Desk or Editorial team. We look forward to hearing from writers, journalists and contributors.
