The federal government has asked parliament to endorse the emergency imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, moving a resolution in the National Assembly on Wednesday that seeks approval of President Asif Ali Zardari’s proclamation under Article 232 of the Constitution.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the resolution during the day’s proceedings. He also moved a motion to suspend Question Hour so the House could take up other business, a proposal opposition members resisted before it was carried by a majority vote.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the imposition of emergency from the treasury benches, arguing that the province’s approach to countering terrorism had endangered national security. He said the presidential proclamation had to be laid before both houses of parliament for approval within ten days, making the resolution a constitutional requirement.
Tarar told the House that the federal cabinet had debated the issue for roughly two and a half hours before recommending the emergency measures, citing internal disturbances and cross-border incursions as the decisive factors. He accused the former PTI-led provincial government of treating the terrorism threat casually and of failing to cooperate with federal authorities.
The minister was particularly critical of deposed chief minister Sohail Afridi, whom he accused of putting political interests ahead of the fight against militancy. He added that the government had made efforts at political dialogue but considered the security situation too serious to leave unresolved.
The emergency, proclaimed on October 11, suspended the PTI administration in the province, where Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is now administering affairs with an eleven-member advisory council. The resolution is expected to return to the House for further debate.
