Emergency, governor’s rule: JUI-F lawmaker moves resolution in Senate
ISLAMABAD: A lawmaker from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) has moved a resolution in the Senate Secretariat that strongly condemns the proclamation of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, urging the President and the federal government to “withdraw or revoke the impugned proclamation and rescind the consequential executive orders.”
“Concerns have arisen regarding the proclamation of emergency in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the way summary of the Prime Minister is approved by the President is in contradiction to the constitutional provisions,” reads the text of the resolution moved by JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza.
The resolution, submitted on Monday, can be taken up in the upcoming Senate session if it is admitted in the House’s business agenda.
“This House – strongly condemns the proclamation of emergency in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the consequential measures taken pursuant thereto, to the extent that they are inconsistent with the Constitution or have been adopted without fulfilment of the applicable constitutional requirements,” the document reads.
It expresses serious concern regarding any action that “undermines provincial autonomy, the mandate of elected provincial institutions, democratic governance or the constitutional rights of the people.”
It says the constitutional framework governing the proclamation of emergency requires strict compliance with the applicable provisions of the constitution, including prescribed conditions, procedures and parliamentary oversight.
The document urges the “President and the federal government, within their respective constitutional powers, to withdraw or revoke the impugned proclamation and rescind the consequential executive orders as it was without application of mind by the President of Pakistan to sign and endorse the advice moved by the Prime Minister.”
The resolution notes, “Therefore, if the President endorsed the advice tendered by the Prime Minister, and issued the impugned proclamation without due consideration, the relevant circumstances or without the requisite constitutional satisfaction, such action is arbitrary, mechanical and unconstitutional exercise of power.”
In addition, Murtaza’s resolution calls upon the federal government to place before Parliament the complete record of the summary, advice, reports, reasons and other material forming the basis of the impugned proclamation, subject to applicable law.
Earlier on Sunday, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the proclamation order for the imposition of emergency in KP on the advice of PM Shehbaz Sharif.
The Article 234(1)(a) provides that if the President, on receipt of a report from the governor of a province, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the province cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the President may— “assume to himself, or direct the governor of the province to assume on behalf of the President, all or any of the functions of the government of the province.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026