Islamabad, Oct 11: Pakistan on Sunday declared an emergency in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the deteriorating law and order situation, bringing the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s party to an end.
An emergency allows Pakistan’s federal government to assume key executive and legislative powers in a province during a security crisis or breakdown of constitutional governance.
President Asif Ali Zardari issued a proclamation under Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, citing rising terrorist attacks and a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the northwestern province, according to the presidential declaration. Under the proclamation, the chief minister, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and advocate general will immediately vacate their offices.
The move comes amid an ongoing protest march led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is pressing for Imran Khan’s release and access to medical treatment for him. The march began in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and has passed through several districts of the province.
Afridi on Saturday vowed to continue peaceful protests and rejected military operations as a solution to the province’s problems. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party had initially planned to take the march to Islamabad for a sit-in, but the federal government said it would not allow protesters to enter the capital.
The presidential declaration on Sunday said the emergency was imposed in view of rising terrorist incidents and the grave law and order situation in the province.
“The extraordinary intensity of terrorist incidents poses serious threats to the lives and property of the public,” the declaration stated.
It cited an increase in attacks on government installations, infrastructure and law enforcement agencies, accusing the provincial government of failing to demonstrate the resolve and take the measures needed to curb terrorism and lawlessness.
The declaration said a report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor had highlighted a breakdown of constitutional machinery and the provincial government’s inability to function in accordance with the Constitution.
Under the proclamation, the federal government may direct the provincial governor to assume all or some functions of the provincial government. The governor may also exercise powers of other provincial institutions and officials, including those of the Provincial Assembly, as directed by the federal government.
The powers of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will be exercised by Parliament or under its authority, according to the declaration, which took effect immediately.
The federal cabinet endorsed the emergency proposal earlier on Sunday after a special meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the worsening security situation.
The cabinet said the provincial government had deliberately disengaged from the fight against terrorism and recommended that the prime minister advise the president to impose an emergency.
“The Cabinet recommended that the Prime Minister advise the President to exercise his constitutional authority and impose an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution of Pakistan, given the gravity of the situation,” an official statement said.
Sources said the cabinet decided to pursue the move after exploring other options, including a last-ditch effort to engage the provincial government through mediation by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). The efforts failed to yield a breakthrough, they said.