National Assembly endorses emergency in KP amid PTI protests, legal challenge

Pakistan’s National Assembly has endorsed the imposition of an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), approving a presidential proclamation issued on October 11 amid protests and strong opposition from PTI lawmakers.

The resolution supports the federal government’s decision to introduce extraordinary measures in the province, which was governed by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) before the intervention. The party has challenged the imposition of the emergency and governor’s rule in the Peshawar High Court.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary presented the resolution in the National Assembly. It stated that the House approved the proclamation issued by President Asif Ali Zardari on October 11 under the second proviso of Article 232(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan.

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The federal government announced the emergency measures and governor’s rule in KP after a cabinet meeting. President Zardari subsequently approved the decision on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The government has defended the move by pointing to an increase in militant attacks and alleging that the provincial administration had failed to maintain law and order and cooperate with counterterrorism efforts.

The decision has further strained relations between the federal coalition and the PTI, which has governed the province.

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The federal government has invoked Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution, which deal with emergency powers and federal intervention in certain circumstances involving provincial governance.

Article 232 provides for the proclamation of an emergency in situations involving threats such as war or internal disturbance, while Article 234 allows presidential action in the event of a constitutional breakdown in a province.

The move follows months of disagreement between Islamabad and the PTI-led provincial government over the handling of terrorism. Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has accused the provincial administration of developing links with militant groups, allegations that PTI leaders have rejected.

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The party maintains that security concerns are being used to justify political action against it. The emergency was imposed as the PTI was preparing a long march from KP to Islamabad to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan, from prison.

Separately, the federal government has approved the establishment of an Area Development Secretariat to oversee administrative affairs, security and development in several southern and former tribal districts, including Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kurram and North Waziristan.

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.

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KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that the lack of coordination between the federal and provincial governments on counterterrorism matters would come to an end, indicating a more centralised approach to security policy.

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