Joint Session of Parliament ratifies emergency, governor’s rule in KP

ISLAMABAD -- The Joint Session of the Parliament, chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, 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.

At the outset, the joint sitting of the Parliament offered fateha for those who died in the roof collapse in Peshawar.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary laid before the joint sitting of the Parliament two proclamations issued by the President on the 11th October regarding the imposition of emergency and governor rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary also tabled two resolutions seeking approval of the joint sitting of the Parliament for the presidential proclamations issued on October 11 regarding the imposition of emergency and Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In his remarks, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar highlighted the constitutional requirement for approval of the proclamations by a joint sitting of the Parliament. He said the National Assembly and the Senate yesterday approved the presidential proclamation of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as per the Constitution.

The Law Minister said 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 regretted that, at a time when the security situation demanded the full attention of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, his focus remained on political mobilization. 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 PTI, during its tenure in the Center, had softened the stance against terrorists.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman emphasized 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 despite significant progress.

He said the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also had a soft corner for the terrorists. He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have welcomed the imposition of emergency in the province.

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