Parliament’s joint sitting ratifies emergency, governor’s rule in KP

Parliament’s joint sitting on Thursday approved presidential proclamations imposing an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution.

According to a statement issued by the National Assembly, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary laid before the joint sitting the two proclamations issued by the president on October 11.

The first proclamation, issued under the second proviso to Article 232(1), was presented under Article 232(7), while the second, issued under Article 234(1), was presented under Article 234(3).

The minister also moved a motion seeking suspension of the notice-period requirements under Rules 14(2) and 15(5) of the Parliament (Joint Sitting) Rules, 1973, to allow the resolutions on the proclamations to be moved.

The motion was adopted by the House, after which the minister moved two resolutions seeking approval of the presidential proclamations under Articles 232(7) and 234(3), respectively.

At the outset, the joint sitting of the parliament offered Fateha for those died in roof collapse in Peshawar.

In his remarks, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted the constitutional requirement for approval of the proclamations by a joint sitting of the Parliament, Radio Pakistan reported. “The decision of emergency has been taken as a last resort in view of the grave security situation in the province and the provincial government’s inability to address the challenge,” he said.

The law minister regretted that, at a time when the security situation demanded the full attention of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, his focus remained on political mobilisation. He also highlighted the funds provided to the province for counterterrorism measures but regretted that the province still has no forensic science laboratory.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Engineer Amir Muqam said it is part of the record that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), during its tenure in the Center, had softened the stance against terrorists.

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have welcomed the imposition of emergency in the province.

Muqam said the current arrangement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must continue until peace is completely restored in the province.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s leader Sherry Rehman emphasised the need for greater unity to fight the menace of terrorism.

Referring to the dialogue held between the government and the opposition, she said the PTI’s provincial leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not allow the opposition to reach an agreement with the government regardless of significant progress.